Concert for Children In Need

To raise donations for Children in Need, the Phoenix singers had been successfully performing and well supported throughout the day from 11am and to conclude the event, a one-off concert was presented in the evening.

The stage was organised in concert style with two rows of chairs on raised platforms, backed by a star cloth and the players were attractively dressed; ladies in their signature red and black whilst the gentlemen sported DJs with red bow ties. Unusually, but it worked well, the songs were chosen by members and friends and arranged cleverly by MD Mary Brigg with excellent accompaniment by Richard Watson on piano. Several introductions throughout the concert were added by Michelle Cooper.

The concert made a rousing start by the full chorus with ‘That’s Entertainment’ followed by a lengthy but worthwhile medley from ‘Les Miserables’. Di and Mary gave us a very amusing rendition of  ‘Duetto Buffo Di Due Gatti.. A Duet for Two Cats’ illustrating there are numerous and humorous ways to sing ‘Meow’! Another lovely highlight was Michelle singing ‘Beauty and the Beast’ as ‘Mrs Potts’ (in tribute to the late Angela Lansbury). Natalie added variety to the programme with ‘The Rainbow Connection’ and  the full chorus sang ‘A Medley from Forrest Gump’, ‘American Trilogy ‘ with plenty of light and shade and a melodic ‘Sweet Caroline.’ Meanwhile the gentlemen sang ‘Wild Rover’ with the audience invited to join in, which they did! Part 1 concluded with  a very good medley from ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’.

The ladies changed into  ‘posh frocks’ for Part 2 and the full chorus opened with ‘Highlights from Blood Brothers’ when their love of singing glowed. Next Graham sang ‘Hallelujah’ with his light and tuneful voice and the full chorus followed with ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ when their voices blended beautifully and ‘Stand by Me’. Suzanne gave us an excellent version of Joyce Grenfell’s monologue  ‘Nursery School – Free Activity Period’ and Richard gave a wow performance on the piano and singing ‘You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth’ as ‘Meatloaf’.

The full chorus sang a Medley from ‘The King and I’, reminding us how lovely the numbers are written by Rogers and Hammerstein and the ladies followed with ‘It’s Raining on Prom Night’ from ‘Grease’ (Their tribute to Olivia Newton-John). Jacky then sang  ‘Rescue’ with sensitivity and gentleness and this was beautifully accompanied by Richard.

The concert concluded with two numbers by the full chorus, ‘Let There Be Peace’ very appropriate at the moment, led by Michelle, and ‘The Beatles in Review’ for which the audience happily and ‘noisily’ joined in. All in all, an excellent effort by the Phoenix Singers to raise important funds for Children In Need. The audience enjoyed it and I did too.

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