An Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein Classics

This was an enchanting performance from start to finish and one that really brought home the quality of the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Having never seen (or heard) of this piece before I really didn’t know what to expect, other than the wonderful tunes provided by R & H of course. The production was a fantastic vehicle for Letchworth Arcadians, in that it gave members who might not often get the chance to sing solo to do just that and in doing so confirmed the strength in depth of this talented society.

The stage was simple yet chairs were well placed so that every member could be seen and with the clever camouflage of parts of the staging not needed for the performance, it gave ample opportunity to use an array of lighting effects which added greatly to the ambience of the performance.

The dress code was simple and elegant but effective and the occasional change of costume used to enhance the mood was effective.

There were a few numbers that I suspect the audience had not heard of before but of course most of the songs are so well known and well loved that when you settled down in your seat and read the programme you knew you were in for an enjoyable performance.

The quality of singing was consistently good throughout, particularly the ensemble pieces, and it was good to see some new faces come to the fore.

Under the expert baton of Graham Albone, harmonies were solid and soloists were confident in their delivery.

Choreography by Frances Aylin was simple yet effective and never beyond the capabilities of the performers.

I try to avoid marking out individual performances in a concert because if a director and MD have made their selections appropriately then every song should be well suited to the individual who is performing it. However, I cannot end without congratulating Adele Walker on her performance though out the concert. A singer who embraces her gift but never consciously appears to outshine her fellow performers. Here was a master class in how to blend into the chorus when necessary and yet take full command of the stage when the time was right. Steve Wilks likewise gave a passionate delivery of the Soliloquy from Carousel. There was not a sound from the audience, they were transported. Well done.

I congratulate Letchworth Arcadians for their choice of autumn production, which I suspect, was enjoyed as much by the members as it was by the audience.

Thank you for your generous hospitality, the homemade cake was yummy!

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