A Musical Explosion

Macclesfield Majestic’s kicked off the summer with this musical theatre revue which, pardon the cliché, had a little something to cater for everyone making sure that a compendium of musical theatre tastes were given an airing – Jukebox musicals, Off Broadway, mainstream and movie musicals made sure this eclectic revue ticked just about every box …perhaps a nod to something Sondheim and a glance to a golden age show somewhere in the line-up would have made it a complete package but, regardless, for me personally, I enjoyed all the choices that were on display.

This cast was huge, probably the largest cast I’ve ever seen in a MMTG production which is incredibly refreshing as it can often be a struggle to get members enthusiastic about a concert/revue show, I suppose this is due to being unsure what the end product would be as it can be quite vague early on. If you were committing to a known named show you’d have a clearer expectation of what the show would be whereas committing to a concert has a stronger sense of the unknown at the start of the process. Looking at the number of people involved in this venture the membership obviously enjoys working with this production team and Carolyn, Liv & Jack did a fine job piecing this show together.

Packed with tight, clean choreography, excellent vocals supported by a three-piece band it was certainly a showcase of what MMTG are capable of which made for a very exciting evening.

It was also nice to see the array of youth performances too, the future of the society taking to the stage. These young ‘uns certainly enjoyed and relished their time in the spotlight feeling at home in front of a crowd which is a positive start for the future of these young performers and indeed for the future of the society.

The flow of the revue was smooth and each song and section segued seamlessly into the next which is an area I see many shows of this type disappoint.

If you’re going to have the band in full view during your production don’t shy away from making them appear presentable – I know that organising sheet music for these types of shows is a tedious undertaking but dropping the music on the floor / the stage once finished with did look untidy and quickly piled up into a hideous heap as the show went on and, musicians, remember we can see you and your faces, please remain professional and respectful.

The order of the show was not only well thought out as a timeline of when the shows being presented are set, the mood and energy of the material was appropriate for the slot within the show too, grand job. It’s so easy for revue shows to feel like they’re coming to an end yet still keep going – this was a well structured collection and crafted into two acts rather than several sections put together. Vocally, this is the strongest I’ve heard from the society with Memphis exposing some impressive singing ability and the girls sounded nothing short of fantastic during the Burlesque finale, you’ve certainly found your Priscilla divas for next year!  

Many congratulations to everyone involved. A grand job throughout! 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.