1st May 2025
Steel Magnolias
Ledbury Amateur Dramatic Society, The Market Theatre, Ledbury
A Night of Comedy Music & Dance
Author: Bruce Wyatt
Information
- Date
- 5th February 2022
- Society
- Kidderminster Operatic & Dramatic Society
- Venue
- The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster
- Type of Production
- Concert
- Director
- Darren Richards
- Musical Director
- Russell Painter
- Choreographer
- Wendy Richards & Elaine Tovey
After the enforced break of 18 months, Kidderminster Operatic & Dramatic Youth Section were at last back on stage with a concert based on comedy music and dance. The opening sequence from “Oliver!” kicked off with ‘Food Glorious Food’ followed by an expressive and well controlled version of ‘As long as he needs me’ by Lauren L’Enfant. This section was rounded off by the chorus with a lively rendition of ‘Consider Yourself’.
There was an early sign of the talent within the group when Georgia Hyde played and sang at the piano with ‘Impossible’ from “Panic at the Disco” and similarly Hope Dickenson also displayed great potential with an original composition ‘Still So Heavy’ in Act 2.
In the next sequence from “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” Mason Howell led the young KODYS with his good voice and this was followed with ‘Pulled’ from “The Addams Family” sung clearly by Lois Stevens. Myles Richards and Larna Richards danced well together with a dance duet from “Aladdin” (‘Never had a Friend like me’) as did Erin Follows and Alice Shelley with their dance duet from “Hairspray “ in Act 2 .
Mason Howell returned for the closing sequence from “Rocky Horror Show” moving well with lots of personality and expression with ‘Picture Show’. Act 1 closed with everyone enjoying the ‘Time Warp’.
Lois and Mason opened Act 2 with ‘Master of the House’ from “Les Miserables” and Summer Pitman sang ‘Castle on the Cloud’ with a sweet touch. Lauren returned with an excellent version of ‘Burn’ from “Hamilton”. I was also impressed by Daisy-May Sandel singing ‘Quiet’ from “Matilda”, strong and expressive. The full company returned for the final sequence of ‘It’s time to Dance’ from “Prom” and ‘Sing’ written by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
During the period of the pandemic quite a few of the youth section had naturally moved on and so KODYS has entered a period of regrowth, but it was clear to me that it already has some good singing talent to sustain them into the next period and beyond. Thank you for the invitation to attend and I look forward to the next production in early July.
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