70 THE HATS WAY

HATS concert celebrates 70 years of the society with a lot of hard work behind the scenes – they’re clearly happy and proud to commemorate this significant milestone in the only way HATS know with an eclectic collection of song and dance. They present an evening of entertainment they have performed over the last 70 years to celebrate.

The stage is simple with steps at the back and two large 70 balloons at the back with lighting at the side, star cloth at the back. The lighting was very effective too by Ashley Foster, Chloe Spencer and Mike Thomas. Lorainne Brown and Gemma Marr direct with various comperes to tell the story of the group: it is evident they are very proud. Comperes are Craig Booth, Ian Brown, Nick Edwards, Sharon Shaw and David Darlington.

Choreography was team effort by Lorraine Brown, Gemma Marr, Paige Burgess and Alice Sofield. The choreography worked with different choreographers giving a different feel, notably All That Jazz, One, Welcome to Burlesque and Thriller standing out. Costumes looked look great and especially the dancers’. I loved the look for All That Jazz all in black but each had their own identity and the same with Thriller.

George Baldwin takes the cast through their paces as Musical Director with the support of backing tracks and a few hair-raising moments were created in a good way.

With a large cast of 30 and 37 numbers I will only mention a few. The opening with All That Jazz  from Chicago was great and fronted by the strong and confident Niamh Allen. That girl knows how to sell a song. Season of Love from their 2018 production was beautiful with Ensemble and Jenny Hubbard and Ian Hawyes. A real sense of team.

Francesca Robinson gave us Beautiful from Jamie – clear, confident and simple - also in a good way: just the lyrics to float into the air and land with precision. Ebony Williams-Goodman singing I Am A Dancer from A Chorus Line and full on dancing with great breath control and a delight singing Breathe from In The Heights. She holds the audience so well. Francesca and Ebony both ones to watch for the future.

The famous song known on the football terraces done by Ian Hawyes and Ensemble another lovely moment that did not disappoint with You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel. Bringing out the comedy and the mop and buckets was Sharon Shaw, Diane Pepper and Judith Firth with Ensemble giving us Life of Grime from Bad Girls.

Giving a master class on telling the story through song was Hannah Ward-Jones singing Pulled from The Addams Family and As Long As Long As He Needs Me from Oliver! One of the highlights for me was Nick Edwards singing Bring Him Home from Les Miserables - I did get a bit goosepimply.

One Day More saw the closing of Act I. With Ensemble and Jenny Hubbard, Ryan Stanton, Hannah Ward-Jones, David Darlington, Ian Hawyes, Craig Booth, Nick Edwards and Jo Cunliffe.

We open Act II with probably one of the strongest sections for choreography, costume and singing and coming together as a cohesive section. All strong in this half and Welcome to Burlesque section the tone from the start by Ensemble, Nick Edwards and Craig Booth. Alex Farrar also coming into his own with My Name from Oliver! Giving a great character.  

For performance just wow in The Last Midnight from Into The Woods performed and I mean performed by Loredana Ogden. It’s hard sometimes to take a song out of context and give it full meaning. But Loredana did this in bucket loads. Very enjoyable. Someone please cast her in a production.

The show finished with Michael Jackson’s Thriller, scaring me half to death coming through the audience. Great finish. The evening was sealed with enthusiasm that had been evident throughout the show - giving a feel-good factor, which Cast, Crew and Committee should be proud of. Here is to the next 70 years HATS from my guest Katherine and I thank you for the invite and hospitality.

 

Liz Hume-Dawson

District 5 Rep

 

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