Gang Show 2015

Once again the melting pot of potential talent that is the North Devon Gang Show took to the boards of the Queen’s Theatre, leaving a packed audience cheering and a-whoopin’ all night.

Gang Show’s across the world provide young people the chance to learn stage skills and to work together as a company of performers, all in professional conditions - such as the big stage at The Queen’s Theatre. Some members of North Devon’s Gang Show have gone on to other amateur societies, theatrical education and out into the big wide world of performance – and for me, watching that spark of potential on the stage is very exciting.

But back to the show, which presented the same format as we have come to expect. Musical medleys, comic sketches and the odd solo number, all performed by a cast of around 70. Personally, my head boggles at the thought of directing that many people, but year-after-year the Gang Show team pull it off! 

Opening with a sea of sequins and sparkles, the show got off to a big start with the audience cheering as row after row of smiling kids (and grown-ups) sang and marched. Although they weren’t quite a synchronised as in previous years, I am still amazed at the sight of such a large cast working together without getting all muddled up.

Of course, mention has to go the one sweet girl who was doing her best down at the front, but not quite getting it right - but totally getting away with it. Is there an age below which anything we do on a stage is just perfect? Well “Number 3” (as she shall forever be know by me after a funny sketch in Act 2) has got it!!

I think if I were to push for development in any area it would be in the music, which was a small band of three, with the lead being piano. Some of the numbers lend themselves to simple accompaniment, but I found myself craving a fuller, more passionate music sound to match the scale of the production on stage.

Gang Show’s are not meant to be a showcase for individuals as such, but there’s still the occasional moment for soloists. There was a very nice rendition of “Rainbow Connection” that made me feel nostalgic and muppet-like, “One Brick At A Time” which was also a fun number (with not a single brick dropped) and a lovely version of “Little People”. “Streets of London”, which I haven’t heard for years, was another good number (duet this time).

Of all the solo’s, however, one stood out for several reasons, the biggest being the beautiful vocals sung in “With You”, from “Ghost”. She was incredible and captivating, coursing with emotion that we all felt. The number was also supported by video images in the background that demonstrated that innovative spark that often rears it’s head in North Devon’s Gang Show. It wasn’t perfectly filmed, but the theme was well placed, based as it was on soldiers going off to war and their return, setting a perfect tone for the emotion song. I hope Team Gang Show keep experimenting with ideas like this, because it sat so well within the whole show.

Talking about innovation, I am always impressed at the clever ideas thrown into the variety mix and this year was no exception. There was a great UV show (there’s normally some UV use at some point), this time using white gloves to form shapes and words to “What a Wonderful World”. It was, quite literally, “Wonderful”! The belly-laugh number of the night was “Old MacDonald”. A brilliant, puppet-based number that had the audience in stitches! The rest of the audience wouldn’t have batted an eyelid, but having just come out of a puppet-based production myself, I did fixate a bit on the puppets’ mouths not working with the lyrics properly. But I’m fussy!

I did find the ‘blokes dressed as women’ section in need of a more creative brush. I know it’s a ‘traditional’ section for the show, but this year’s “Three Little Maids” went on a bit too long without doing anything and felt more awkward than funny.

Can’t fault the excellent costumes (as always) and indeed I enjoyed following the build-up to show week with posts to the Facebook Page showing the busy bees at work on their mammoth task! Leading on from that was another clever section based on “Games” that made me laugh out loud as the cast trooped on all dressed as Mario. My face ached from smiling! 

Thanks for another opportunity to see the seeds of talent. I look forward to seeing them grow, all due to the launchpad that Gang Show offers them!

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