Chicago

An evening with the North Ormesby Minstrels watching their performance of Chicago was a joy to behold.  WOW!

The music from the MD plus 8 musicians as a live band was a super sound throughout, nicely balanced with the voices, and the opening number “And all that Jazz” left me with goose bumps and ready to enjoy the rest of the show.  

The choreography was sharp, stylistic and so well-rehearsed with all the chorus it was drilled to perfection, and when considering it was all done by the leading role too was an achievement to be proud of. The details in the shapes and placings, the accents and the content were superb to watch. Well done Alice.  

The two leading ladies were equally spectacular and worked well together.  Roxie played by Gina McBride had a lovely voice, great comedy, nicely danced, and an expressive performance.  Alice Maenami as Velma Kelly was stunning.  Her voice, expressions, energy and dancing were flawless, and performance was so emotive it was joyous to watch. Tom Milton who gave a beautiful beleaguered Amos Hart, duped husband and down trodden soul singing Mr Cellophane with lovely expression and voice. Jill Stephenson as “Mama Morton” brought her sinister side as a character, very menacing and yet beautiful singing as solo and duets, so poignant with “Class”. Billy Flynn, the sleezy solicitor, was well played by Garry Dring, particularly clever with his “doll” routine with Roxie. George Maenami as the drag act Mary Sunshine made a beautiful lady and well performed and carried off.  Other roles of cameos were well cast, M.C (Keith Lewis) appearing on the staging and stage floor with accurate entrances and great energy, Sgt Fogarty (Jeff Sturdy), Anton (Marty Maenami to complete the family show) and Fred Casely (Thomas Allen) all gave lovely performances. The musical numbers were all a great mix of chorus, duets and solos, harmonies were well sung and volume and diction were great too. “Cell block tango” was particularly well done with creative staging and clever choreography, and lighting effects to enthral the full audience.  

The fixed set scaffold staging worked well, with orchestra on raised deck, and wheeling jail bars creating extra dressings added for scenes, slick changes with cast adding tables and chairs, superb lighting of colours and effects gave added atmosphere, and sound with many mics worked well. The whole show was such a team effort, and a vision created by Lesley Maenami’s direction that shone through with the enjoyment by all performing and those helping. The applause from the audience portrayed their enjoyment as much as mine too, so very pleased to say “Well done Minstrels, a truly stunning show.”

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.