A Night at the Movies

This youthful group just goes from strength to strength and “A Night at the Movies”, featuring many perennial favourites but also quite a few lesser known songs, was an excellent showcase for the talents of its members.

The theatre was set out café-style with tables set with cloths and candles, achieving a wonderful cabaret atmosphere, especially when the lights came up on the stage. Lighting Designer Lee Stoddart achieved some great effects on an empty stage with his sumptuous lighting.

Director Bee Anderson, assisted by Dan Farmiloe and Ryan Moss, must have had a formidable task deciding which songs to include from the vast selection available, but this was much more than just a selection of everyone’s favourites. The numbers chosen had been very carefully thought through and each item was well planned and choreographed, the performers given suitable (and frequently stunning) costumes, lighting and props to help them achieve quite magical results.

It would be invidious to single out individuals for praise as this was very much an ensemble piece and everyone was obviously working really well together and having a great time.  The standard of both solo and ensemble singing throughout was excellent, and Bee’s choreography had obviously been well-rehearsed and was performed with great precision.

The society has a bright future ahead of it judging by the talents of the children involved. They had some numbers of their own to perform, choreographed by Rebecca Backham, and demonstrated great confidence and skill in both singing and movement.

The presentation of the show was very slick and I particularly liked the very relaxed approach taken by our comperes for the evening, Nick Williams, Adam Fox and Ryan Moss (who also wrote the script). This trio worked so well together it was more like watching a comedy act than a simple introduction to the next group of songs. All three seemed really at home handling a live audience.

Music was supplied by a three-piece band, directed by Luke Marshall, with some numbers being performed to good quality backing tracks. Clear sound reproduction ensured that most songs were heard without trouble, although the percussionist did seem to get a little carried away at times, drowning out not only the singers but the music! A small price to pay for the great sound they produced.

As this was the fifth performance I’d attended this week, I was feeling a little jaded, but the standards of performance achieved and the talent and sheer exuberance of the cast very quickly had me singing along and enjoying every moment of this fabulous show!

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