Copacabana

Northallerton Musical Theatre Company gave its patrons a different type of show this time with the Barry  Manilow song and dance extravaganza, ‘Copacabana’.  They were assured of some good music and, with the dance group they have available, some good dancing.  The “Copa Girls” were Paula Bailey, Zoe Baxter, Rachel Egan, Emma Greenhalgh, Adele McNally and Anthea Richardson- Owens.  The “Copa Boys” were Phil Bargewell, Thomas McGovern and Lewis Wilde.  They were outstanding with excellent costumes and wonderful choreography by Nic Jenkins who did a first class job with this. There were some superb performances in the show, particularly from Emma Dickinson who played  Samantha/Lola la Mar, and David Walker, who played Stephen/Tony Forte.   Although it was mainly music, there was a story, and the show began when Stephen was composing a song which he hoped would become a hit musical.  Samantha was his wife, that takes him back to 1947 as he creates a musical surrounding Lola la Mar, and then we move on to New York where Lola hopes to become a Copa Girl.  Here she meets Gladys, very well played by Emma Browne, a former Copa Girl who tries to persuade the owner of the Famous Copacabana Night Club, Sam Silver, also well played by James Cornick, to take on Lola.  It is here that Tony falls for Lola. Things go well until Rico Castelli, an Italian gangster, and Conchita Alveres arrive.  They were well played by Azzie  Johnson and Andrea  Atkinson, respectively.   When they hear Lola singing it causes some friction between the two girls.  Rico then drugs Lola and we move on to Havana to Rico’s own nightclub, The Tropicana.  Tony. Sam and Gladys hear of this and they go to Cuba to find her.  This is where we see Conchita singing, and Andrea was excellent singing ‘Ay Caramba’.  Lola and she begin to get on, and during the song ‘El Bravo’ Tony runs onto the stage followed by Rico, with a gun. Conchita, also with a gun, Shoots Rico.  Tony and Lola are finally reunited and return.  Here Stephen finishes his song.  Other parts were played by David Ferry, the waiter, Willie, and Martin Holdsworth, the Maitre de at the nightclub. The Chorus were strong and accompanied the soloists very well.  The costume team did a great job, they hadn’t a lot of time between costume changes.  Alan Owens had just the right number in his small ensemble. Richard Bainbridge and Nic Jenkins did a first class job in presenting this show with not a great deal of story.  It was a great nights entertainment, and something different for Northallerton. Well done.

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