Colours of Life

Against a smart star cloth background, the singers presented themselves dressed in a variety of different colours and a most suitable opening number of ‘Colour My World’ written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent, with some good harmonies. We were warmly welcomed by MC Michelle Cooper and this was followed by a very nice medley from Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. There were in fact a total of 24 numbers throughout the concert, so it is difficult to mention them all in detail, led by the talented duo of Mary Brigg, Musical Director and Conductor and Richard Watson, Musical Director and Accompanist.

In  Act 1, Richard did in fact feature in a number ‘Chocolate Girl’ which was sung with feeling and  Mary led the chorus well with ‘The White Cliffs of Dover’. Other stand out numbers included a bright ‘Blue Moon’ sung by the chorus, an excellent poem ‘Weekenders’ from Sue Nicholson and a brilliantly performed ‘Black velvet’ sung by Sandy MacNeill.

Along the way great support was provided by Jenny & John Spencer with ‘The Black Hills of Dakota’, Natalie Smith with ‘Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue’, Emma Lewis leading the chorus well with a gentle ‘Over the Rainbow’, plus the Gentlemen’s chorus with ‘Ebony and Ivory’. The final number in Act 1 was a sincerely sung ‘The Colours of My Life’ from the musical Barnum.

Act 2 opened with the full chorus singing the ever-popular ‘Rodgers and Hammerstein On Broadway’ with vocal energy. I enjoyed Suzanne Hill’s ‘Blue Bayou’, followed by the Chorus singing ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ with a special addition of Richard’s glasses in the style of Elton John! Michelle Cooper sang an excellent ‘The Wizard and I’ from Wicked and after a fun number ‘Yellow Submarine’ by the chorus, Jacky Bedford sang a ‘smokey’ melodic ‘Learnin’ The Blues’. Richard was then joined by John Spencer for a couple of amusing numbers; ‘Whispering Grass’ and ‘Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia’.

The ladies then returned, or should I say the Pink Ladies, suitable attired singing ‘It’s Raining on Prom Night’ and this was followed by Andy Doyle who sang an excellent and natural version of ‘True Colours’. Before the final number ‘Let There be Peace on Earth’ sung with great sincerity by the full chorus, we were treated to a number from Helen Kudriavtseva, who had recently arrived from Ukraine, singing a glorious love song, unaccompanied, which was well received.

As ever, a great choice of music by Mary, a smart variety of  costume changes throughout, whilst the staging was well lit with good sound. Congratulations to all involved.

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