Everyday's A Musical
Information
- Date
- 31st May 2019
- Society
- Broad-Way Players
- Venue
- The Seagull Theatre
- Type of Production
- Concert
- Director
- Sarah Meers/Caz Meers
- Musical Director
- Jackie Turner
- Choreographer
- Sarah Meers
Now it’s not every day you find a show with so many great numbers sung by such a small cast…all of whom put so much energy into the show that even the audience are exhausted, and that’s just from clapping!
It is difficult to single out specific numbers and who sung what, as the programme only listed titles and a cast list of 21 names in alphabetical order. However be assured that there were no back row Johnnies here…they all participated to a full, and I mean full programme of some feel good songs from some iconic musicals from old to new.
We opened with the whole Company with the appropriately named ‘Brand New Day’ from The Wiz. There followed a cornucopia of favourites from ‘Singing In The Rain’ and ‘Good Morning Lowestoft’ as a parody from Hairspray, then of course that great Dolly Parton number ‘9 to 5’ (soon to be seen in Gorleston!), ‘Bright New Day’, Blood brothers ‘Wonderful Wonderful Day’…you get the drift. We had ‘Seven Brides…’, ‘Proud Mary’ from Tina (Great moves Connor –Lee, also for ‘Queen of the Night’) and even Trad panto with well delivered comedy, ‘If I Were Not Upon The Stage’.
There has to be some Abba, and ‘Money Money Money’ set the tone followed by ‘We’re In The Money’, then ‘Spend Spend Spend’ (Hmm, Andy Capp the musical? Must have missed that one!), Watch out Police about, ‘Policeman’s Lot’… We had ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘Sweet Charity’ and a great ‘I Hate Men’, sung with just a tad of real feeling! (I’m sure she doesn’t!).
Food followed, with the obvious from Oliver, then ‘Chop Suey’, and To end Act one, ‘Hand me down that Can Of Beans!’ Makes you quite hungry! ( Ice Cream ?).
Act Two, began with a clothing theme, ‘Put On Your Sunday Clothes’ from Hello Dolly, a touching, ‘I Remember It Well’, and from Annie, ‘Never Fully Dressed...’ and a real crowd pleaser ‘I Have A Dream’ (Well done Darcey!). Talking of clothes, what a tremendous array of colourful costumes and the quick changes required! Well done wardrobe! (Fantastic!).
The rather elongated but beautifully costumed dancing extravaganza , maybe aka ‘Strictly Broad-Way’, was a selection of dance styles to the tune of ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’ and judged by some almost recognisable judges in their inimitable personas, even a SEVERNNN! Great comedy and footwork! It was though, to my mind, a trifle long and probably helped to extend the show by almost twenty minutes… Not to worry…we are on a roll, and ‘Well Did You Ever’ from High Society led into a lively ‘Footloose’, where an attempt was made to bring some audience members on stage, always risky, and they did it, but I fear the request for the whole audience to stand and join in was a ‘step’ too far! Never mind, a gentle version of ‘Music Of The Night’ from Phantom, sung as a lullaby, allowed a brief respite, and led to ‘A Million Dreams’ from The Greatest Showman, before we were launched into a frenzy of Beatles best, with a medley of ‘Day Tripper’ (of course!), ‘Yesterday’ (still on message!), ‘Hard Day’s Night’(Saw it coming!), and ‘Let It Be’, led to the whole Company once more on stage to celebrate with that crowd pleasing repetitive anthem…altogether now…” Hey Jude”…Nah, nah, nah nanana Nah to fade… !
This inclusive community orientated group can be proud of the way they transmit their enthusiasm to the audience and never fail to entertain…Well done!
Perhaps next time just consider the length of the show, (10 pm should be a deadline), and sometimes less is more. But there was nothing in this show that they could leave out! Keep it up!
© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.