CAMS in Concert 2017

One could easily imagine, having attended CAMS in Concert for at least four consecutive years, that some elements of repetition in the programme might occur. Not a bit of it!  MD Kate Doig’s inventiveness when it comes to putting a concert programme together, is second to none.  Of course a programme can be as good as you make it, but it fails unless you have the quality of performers to realise it  -  and CAMS demonstrated once again tonight that they can do just that – and do it justice!  

Thirty-four musical numbers split over three sections - Transport and Travel, Friend or Foe and Showstoppers – successfully covered the timeline from the 1940s to the present day, beginning with Oklahoma! and coming bang up-to-date with Aladdin. It was encouraging to see a cast of twenty six, virtually all of whom sang either solos or concerted numbers. This, together with thoughtful staging by Director, Ruth Anderson, offered us a host of attractive stage pictures and even some lively movement as in the final item in the first Act “The Farmer and the Cowman” from Oklahoma!, where line dancing merged with Scottish country dancing to round off Act One in a rousing fashion.

In a concert of this type I would normally avoid mentioning any one individual as being particularly outstanding – since I would have to name the whole cast.  However, this year I must break with tradition and congratulate someone who made his performing debut tonight. In “The Pushbike Song”, with, I am told, only a couple of days rehearsal, Cupar’s answer to Sir Chris Hoy,  stage technician Ross Stockton demonstrated that his talents lie not only backstage, but also in a faultlessly executed cycle routine at an appropriate point in the number!

Simple, but effective costuming all added to an excellent concert and, finally, since, so often, it is blamed for being either too loud or too quiet, tonight the sound in the hall was just what was required – a fine balance between singers and the band, comprising Kate Doig on keyboards and Bobby McCabe on percussion.

Interludes this year were given by local folk quartet, Forgaitherin, finding a pleasant contrast between the main programme and their folk music.

Many thanks CAMS for inviting me to your show and to allow me the honour of presenting five Long Service Awards to worthy individuals.

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