A Night at the Musicals

I knew that Polegate were an excellent Drama Group but have to admit that at the back of my mind was the thought that I had only heard them sing in Panto and just wondered how they would cope with a selection of West End and Broadway musical extracts.  I need not have worried!  It was a brilliant evening with all the musical offerings being dealt with in a truly professional manner.  We were seated at tables in cabaret style giving a good feeling of conviviality.

I was not familiar with some of the more modern shows chosen so it was good for me to learn a little bit about them and information was provided as the show went along.  There were also many really familiar shows also put over in excellent fashion.

There were some solos and also other original solos which were treated as duets or quartets and of course, plenty of chorus singing.  And they just did not come on and sing – they moved as well and told the stories of these extracts very well indeed, all accompanied by recorded music which worked well.

Act 1 started with the song “Hello” from Book of Mormon and ideally the Producers song “Goodbye” was sung at the end of Act 2 and in between we were treated to a really good selection of the old and the new.  As the well devised programme stated, we were immersed in fun, romance and drama which made for a very entertaining evening.           

Director Nicola Cullen had brought this all together so that everyone had a chance to shine and very often shine they did in some great costumes.  The basic outfits of black trousers and purpleish tops also worked very well with occasional additions.  Well done to those responsible for costumes.

“There is Nothing like a Dame” from South Pacific was sung as the penultimate offering with a female chorus to start off with, all wearing sailor type hats but as they neared the end of the song who should come bursting on to the stage but three Pantomime Dames which I thought was an hilarious touch!  They came into the audience costumed fantastically and created a great deal of fun.

Nicola Cullen is certainly to be congratulated for bringing this show to Polegate – it made a really good night out creating lots of laughter which I’m sure we all need from time to time.   We must also never forget those who have worked so hard backstage and front of house doing all the myriad jobs that have to be done to make a successful show.            

Well done Polegate!

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