A Night at the Musicals

This was the first time I had reviewed a show for Be Unique.  They have only recently become members of NODA and were performing their first combined schools production.  This involved bringing together young people, from tots to teens, from Be Unique’s many performing arts classes across Essex and beyond. A mammoth task indeed.

The Arts Centre was packed to the rafters on this summer Sunday afternoon and as the lights went down and the curtains opened, Isaac and Oliver from the Withersfield branch opened the proceedings with A Musical from the musical comedy Something Rotten.  A terrific number to open a show and very well performed.

After this the songs came thick and fast, starting with Stick it to the Man with the combined talents of three classes followed by Wouldn’t it be Lovely, this time featuring some of the little ones who were really working very hard on their movements and trying to get their words right.

I really liked Clavering Seniors singing Six from the musical of the same name, followed by Summer’s solo of I Know Things Now, from Into the Woods. Not an easy song to sing but I think she did very well.

Hard Knock Life was possibly a bit too complicated for some of the little ones from Clavering and Chesterford as they struggled to sing the words and do the movements.  Nevertheless they tried their best to get it right and were obviously having a lovely time on stage.  Legally Blonde is a great show with some amazing songs.  Very well done to Chalkstone Seniors on their versions of Omigod and Whipped. 

Clavering Seniors performed A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman.  A lovely song but too low at times for young voices.  Even so, they managed it very well. This was followed by the Show Team singing Dolly Parton’s classic 9 – 5.  I notice I have written in my notes – let the mic do the work.  This is advice I was once given when trying to sing loudly. It’s so easy to strain a voice which is not fully trained. That said they tackled the number well as good projection and learning to breathe properly are no doubt part of their training.

Well done to Isla on her solo Castle on a Cloud.  A very good effort.  We finished the first half with You Will Be Found – a lovely song from Dear Evan Hansen and very well sung by the intermediates.

The second half opened with Hard Work by Withersfield Seniors. Very well sung with some great harmonies.  Oh the Thinks You Can Think from Seussical had backing vocals although I did hear some nice singing from Chalkstone and Withersfield intermediates.  Good choreography from the Elite Team in Footloose and Any Dream will Do was well sung by the combined juniors.  Eloise tried hard with Mamma Mia but she was a little flat. It takes courage to stand and sing before such a large audience, so well done for effort. 

We then had some very good dancing from High Easter Seniors with Baggy Trousers, followed by the Show Team and their excellent version of Radio Gaga. 

I was absolutely blown away by Lexi-Mae singing She Used to be Mine from Waitress. This is an adult song with an adult theme but she sang it beautifully and with such feeling. Very well done.

And so to a great finale with Seasons of Love from Rent.  This was very well sung with some good harmonies.

Putting together a show such as this is a mammoth task and I think Becca and her team should be very pleased with what they achieved. There were some lighting blips, with stage lights failing to come up on cue.  This could have been upsetting for the young performers, but all credit to them for appearing completely unfazed.

I was delighted to be asked to come along.  Thank you for a very enjoyable afternoon.

 

 

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