Crazy for You

The success of this show is dependent on strong principal players and a versatile ensemble to really make it work and Banbury Operatic Society certainly had all this and more! BOS are not afraid to try new challenges as was the case with their recent acclaimed production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Here, however, the company returned to a more traditional musical genre delivered with energy, discipline and lots of dedication and hard work. Director and choreographer Charlotte Boardman (who incidentally designed the impressively versatile set) had created some great characters and had ensured the principals and ensemble were well drilled in movement, dance routines and characterisations. With some valuable, no doubt, assistance from Assistant Director David Hornsby to lighten the load the show moved along at a lick! The pace was excellent with slick scene changes (always so much more speedy and effective with cast participation) and lots of comedy both visual and spoken shining through. The choreography was inventive yet accessible to all the company and performed with great verve and enthusiasm. I really liked the clever routine incorporating using the ladies as double basses in Slap that Bass! Musical Director Nick Perry kept a tight ship and the band sounded splendid from the rousing overture to the final curtain calls. The principal and ensemble singing was of a high quality with some exceptional diction from all cast members. I really think that clear, crisp diction is vital in musical theatre and here the quality was very good. The ensemble work was very good and the style and difficulty of the choreography ensured that all levels of proficiency were catered for. It was quite evident that there was a degree of women out-numbering the men in this production and so some of the ladies donned stubble and deepened their voices.  Everyone maintained their character throughout and all looked fine and the characterisations were strong. Well done BOS for a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable evening of musical theatre and I would like to congratulate everyone associated with the production.

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