Eras

Many years ago I watched Dr. Evadne Hinge announce a piece of music (a Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto) saying, “It is about 45 minutes long. I have condensed it to two minutes but I have left the best bits in.” This is how I feel about many compilation shows. The difficulty lies in deciding which are the best bits and what to leave out. Your production of “Eras” must have taken the production team a lot of deliberation in the final decision of included shows and songs - especially considering the choice came from over seventy years of theatrical entertainment. The end result was a most excellent choice of shows from about the 1880’s to the modern day. The next decision is how to start and finish the two acts of the show and fitting the rest of the programme into an organised and pleasing order.

From the opening piece from “Oklahoma” to “Sit you’re rockin’ the boat” and “Rhythm of life” to a Lloyd Webber medley, an extremely talented group of soloists, actors, ensemble singers - both adult and children - and dancers, supported by an efficient team of technicians gave us a most splendid afternoon of enjoyment. The soloists were all well chosen for their particular songs. It was lovely to see so many children on stage, especially when they were able to shine in appropriate excerpts as per “The Sound of Music”. The choreography, and what a lot of it there was, was brilliantly arranged, and expedited by a large cast of up to fifty-nine people. The stage that you were performing on was of the larger variety and it allowed for large ensemble numbers with plenty of movement.    

I have to say a few congratulatory words about the costumes. With so many shows over such a time span, the wardrobe department did a Herculean job in costuming so many people in the apposite period costume of each particular production - cowboys, Jews, police, glitz, workmen, and more.

As we know, musical theatre is not just singing but acting as well, so it was great to see a section of drama with an excerpt from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. To balance that, we were also treated to a short section of pantomime.

As always, in compilation shows, I manage to find a new song or two and Saturday was no different. I’m biding my time (from Crazy for You) and Dirty Laundry (From the Witches of Eastwick) were new to me.

I suppose one cannot see any theatrical production without having a favourite moment and in this case I have to say that a full cast, just standing and singing, with very little movement, in Bohemian Rhapsody was my top spot - absolutely fantastic including the amazing guitar riffs. There were eight musicians with far more than eight instruments accompanying the singers throughout the performance and a wonderful sound they made.    

You have been so lucky this time to have such a distinctive theatre to use whilst the Capitol is out of action and I do hope you are able to find some new rehearsal premises and wish you the best of futures as you return to your home stage.

Congratulations to performers, musicians, production team, backstage helpers and all for a great afternoon of celebration.

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