Centre Stage - The Sound of Musicals

This was a concert which was a showcase for the many talented performers in the current company and at the same time was a credit to the production team. The dedication and hard work certainly paid off being a joy to behold and I am sure a joy to perform. We were treated to an abundance of talent demonstrating the high standard now being achieved on the amateur stage. If I had to pick an item it would have to be Anthem from ‘Chess’ which was so moving and intense. The chorus work was also excellent with a good balance and nice interpretation and outstanding harmony. The opening number, Colour my World from ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ made for a brilliant and delightfully colourful start to the evening with the cast dressed in brightly coloured tee shirts and black trousers. Also we were treated to an electrifying Hello from the ‘Book of Mormon’ and on the subject of Electricity a great interpretation of it from ‘Billy Elliot’. Most of the numbers in the first half were chorus numbers including The Lambeth Walk, Tell Me it’s not True and a hilarious take off of Elvis in ‘Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat’. It wasn’t just the singing that delighted us all in the audience.  There was some excellent choreography, slick scene changes and some well thought out lighting designs plus a very efficient sound operative.

The second half opened with ‘9 to 5 The Musical’ and closed with You Can’t Stop the Beat from ‘Hairspray’, two great chorus numbers with an outstanding version of Slipping through my Fingers from ‘Mamma Mia’ somewhere in the middle. All through, the chorus and in fact the principals were cleverly dressed in co-ordinating outfits. I love the multi colours of the waistcoats, but I haven’t praised the soloists, duets, trios and small groups for their great efforts. Excellent singing and great acting for each number especially the two drunks on a Saturday night.  It was superb.

There was about a dozen youngsters involved in the show providing some beautiful singing during the evening either in groups with one or two actually singing solo. It was lovely to see them given a chance to show what they could do as, after all, they are the performers of the future. I would like to have named them individually but the cast names were not listed in the programme with the names of the songs. Perhaps this is something which might be addressed in future programmes. My congratulations to the director, the choreographer and the orchestra and to everyone involved for making this a marvellous night of pure enjoyment.

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