A Wymsical Christmas

Billed as a Christmas Musical Entertainment with guests “The Fenice Singers”, featuring yuletide favourites from traditional carols and holiday classics to brand-new festive hits, the stage was set for all sections of Wymsical; Debut, Spotlight and Encore to demonstrate their range. Part one was entitled ‘The Grinch That Stole Christmas’ and after a colourful opening  by the company singing ‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’, Encore sang ‘Somewhere in my Memory’ with some nice harmony.

The cast of ‘The Grinch’ was made up of six narrators and 11 other characters but I must make a special mention of the Grinch himself, played with great characterisation by Cameron Morris , not least in his believable number ‘I Hate People’! Cindy Lou, played by Lily Jepson-Haines, for the performance I attended sang ‘Where Are You Christmas’ well and this was followed by the company singing ‘A Holly Jolly Christmas’ clearly enjoying playing their kazoos.  ‘You’re a Mean One, Mr Grinch’ was sang ‘full on’ by the company and this was followed by the more gentle ‘Welcome Christmas’. The final two numbers; ‘Sleigh Ride’ and ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ were both well sung.

In the opening number of Part 2 Encore were very smartly dressed in DJs and evening gowns and this was followed with ‘Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer’ sung by ten youngsters from the Debut section. The visiting Fenice Singers then sang a melodic ‘In Dulci Jubilo’ , a traditional Christmas carol of German and Latin text followed by ‘Verbum Caro Factum Est’. ‘Winter, Fire and Snow’ sung by Encore was beautiful as to was ‘Do You Want to Build a Snowman’ by the Spotlight section. ‘Peppermint Stick’ by the Dubut section was very good and ‘I want To Stare at My Phone with You’ was sang whilst Encore naturally gazed at their mobile phones!

With a total of 18 numbers in Part 2 it is difficult to mention every one, but I would like to highlight ‘The Christmas Song’ by the harmonising Fenice Singers and possibly the most enjoyable of all their numbers ‘Angel’s Carol’. ‘A Letter to Santa’ by Debut was really funny and Encore’s sketch ‘Snow White’ was well delivered. Encore and The Fenice Singers came together well for ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ and after we all sang ‘Hark, The Herald Angels Sing!’ the company left us all feeling it really was like Christmas.

Thank you for the usual warm welcome and I look forward to ‘Anastasia’ next March.

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