Christmas at the Musicals

Having battled against the dreadful weather, as soon as I walked into Exmouth Pavilion it was wonderful to be lifted immediately by the buzz in the packed auditorium. The excitement of the many parents, siblings, grandparents and friends was palpable! Simply staged with perfectly balanced sound and lighting, together with simple costumes of coloured t-shirts and Christmas jumpers, this musical medley of musical numbers and Christmas songs allowed Exmouth Youth Theatre to focus its attention on channelling the energy of its vibrant young cast as well as honing their musical theatre skills. With over 40 songs and routines, this show dazzled, allowing all the young people to step into the limelight, many of them having the opportunity to sing solo lines and perform down stage, for example in “Stick it to the Man”. The first act romped through our favourite musical numbers, from the sharp choreography of “Revolting Children”, the moving solo of “Quiet”, the delight and charm of the Rising Stars singing “Tomorrow” to the joy and energy of “Our House” and “Baggy Trousers”. The song titles and visuals displayed on the two televisions either side of the stage was a useful addition. Act Two moved on to Christmas songs and the appreciative crowd did not hold back in cheering and applauding. “Walking in the Air” and “When Christmas Comes to Town” were particularly poignant and moving and the singers should be congratulated for their singing skills. “Twelve Days of Christmas” certainly stood out for its energy, sharp moves, pace and gusto – “5 Gold Rings” will be a fabulous lasting memory as well as the confident and comedic edge given to “Love Actually”. It was very clear that this society is an inclusive and supportive youth theatre – all the young people looked like they were having a wonderful time. The teamwork, self-awareness and self-discipline was evident, even amongst the Rising Stars who I know only joined in September. This is testimony to the skill, dedication and drive of the creative team and seeing the older children mindfully sharing the stage with the younger ones was heartwarming. This show was an absolute joy to watch and filled me with much-needed Christmas cheer. I very much look forward to seeing School of Rock next year. Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what they see at the performance in question. The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance, and it is inevitable that their assessment will be affected by that knowledge.

The N.O.D.A. Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular the performance viewed. It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed. Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre. It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions

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