A day at the races

Spotlights Musical Theatre Group have created a celebratory musical revue titled ‘A day at the races’ which successfully links thirty songs from the twenty productions that the society has performed over the last thirty years. It is a perfect vehicle for a society with a strong choral Ensemble under an enthusiastic Musical Director to have fun working together to provide an entertaining evening of familiar tunes. 

The creator and director links the songs with a totally ridiculous plot which borrows a title and a racing fraud story from the 1937 Marx Brothers film, characters from a host of musical theatre and Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and adds in sprinkling of modern-day satire with references to King Charles, politicians and even the rail strike. It means that many performers don’t get the chance to develop strong characterisations but does provide opportunities for most to get short cameos as well as deliver a strong choral sound supporting the principals of Tony, and Maria. 

The semi-staged concert format enables the songs to be quickly linked with minimum dialogue and props and the excellent video projections set the Maxim Night club and Ascot racecourse scenes very well with a wonderful practical Deadwood Stagecoach and a simple bar with good quality signage to add to locations and provide visual gags. The result is a delightful musical evening with the cast sharing their obvious enjoyment in singing with an enthusiastic audience sat in a night club format.

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