DecaDance

This was another Seaside Special from the society which provides visitors and locals alike with first class entertainment for a warm summer’s evening.

Giving us non-stop music, dance and comedy from the 50s right through to the noughties we started with a Rock ‘n’ Roll dance hall section with numbers made popular by Bill Hayley, Buddy Holly, The Platters and Jackie Wilson.  I particularly enjoyed the Monty Python number, Galaxy Song, which followed an extremely good re-creation of the popular Parrot sketch. 

We moved on to the 60s with Beatles memories and hits from across the Atlantic such as Aretha Franklin’s R E S P E C T and Peaceful Easy Feeling by The Eagles.

The first half closed in the 1970s with disco hits originally performed by Abba and Olivia Newton John (they know how to please this NODA Rep!) as well as Michael Jackson and by then we were happy but pretty exhausted!

The second half continued the musical journey through time with Madness, Tom Jones and Jennifer Rush hits of the 80s and here was included a quite wonderful performance of Victoria Wood’s Ballad of Barry and Freda.

Into the 90s we went with Queen’s I Want To Break Free, Is This The Way To Amarillo and a very funny Spice Girls’ Wannabe involving five men.  Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black was also included.

The final noughties segment was highlighted by the inclusion of Hallelujah and Take That’s Shine.

Many of the strong vocals from a cast of around 30 were enhanced by some good movement and the audience was singing along with virtually every number.  It was good, though, that at times we had some quieter moments such as with What I Did For Love and With You from Ghost.

I have to say that the musical accompaniment from MD Geoff Allanach on keyboards along with two guitars and percussion was superb and kept everything moving at just the right pace.

The society’s choice of music proved that, in the right setting, it not just oldies that please.  This was very, very entertaining.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.