A Comedy Cabaret

How refreshing to be invited to see something completely different. Director Ian Clark has concocted an evening filled with songs and sketches from a wide variety of different sources and eras.

As we entered the hall, the tables had been set out in a very convivial café style with red cloths and a little vase of flowers on each one, with copies of a well-produced programme so that we knew what was coming up. A very reasonably priced bar was available and a raffle in aid of The Rowans Hospice. Quite by chance we ended up sitting next to people we hadn’t seen for ages, which made for a very pleasant evening.

When the curtains went back we were greeted by a delightfully tinselly backdrop to the stage with the company’s logo proudly illuminated at the top, really giving the feeling that we were in a cabaret night club. Clever lighting enhanced the atmosphere.

The strength of this group has always been its choral singing, and this was ably demonstrated at the beginning and end of act one, and in the finale, with well-known favourites from shows. Lou Bundy has worked her usual magic bringing the cast up to this excellent standard. These numbers also demonstrated choreographer Sophie Dulake’s skill at getting a lot of movement into the very small space available on the stage.

Space doesn’t allow me to mention every item on the packed programme individually, but I would like to pick out some of the highlights for me. Of the songs: Johanna’s perfectly delivered “Always a Bridesmaid” was a joy; Lorna and Hayley put real feeling into “For Good”; Johanna and Hayley’s “Stepsisters’ Lament” was beautifully done and Kelly H’s “She Used to be Mine” really tugged at the heartstrings. Lastly, but the most hilarious part of the evening, was “Jobs” with Johanna, Mark, Mandy, Emma, Tricia, Hilary, Lorna and Lee – how you all managed to keep going without corpsing or serious injury I do not know! It was amazing! Of the sketches, while some felt a little too long, others worked really well, especially “Hypochondria” with Tricia and Hilary; Rachael’s “Flowers” really got to the heart of Joyce Grenfell’s innocent monologues;  “Fork Handles” with Kelly E and Lee, and “Mastermind” with Rachael and Jonathan, both worked extremely, well evoking fond memories of the originals without being slavish copies.

Costumes throughout were well considered with coloured T shirts and black trousers for the chorus numbers and well-chosen outfits for the solo/duet items and the sketches. Props throughout were well sourced (Helen Dulake) and looked the part.

All together it was a great evening, full of fun and laughter, making it so easy to part with our money for good causes! Thank you.

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