Gang Show 2017

A very good production visually, with excellent lighting effects and good sound throughout.  It never ceases to amaze me that so much detail is given to every aspect of the production making it a true celebration of theatre from everyone who takes part, whether on stage or as part of the backup team.  Director Hermione Drew and her very large team are truly admirable.

I liked the choice of music, which suited the marginally overall younger cast this year, and which Eleanor Petch had got some lovely harmonies into, good arrangements, and a very tuneful band.

Claire Keates and her choreography team used the strengths of the cast to bring some new moves that suited both the music and the cast.  I particularly liked the use of circles in the opening number, it rang the changes nicely, and everyone moved around the rostra and stage well.

The Hoot Mon number had dots of lighting which were fun and that enhanced the purely dance number, with plenty of energy from the dancers too.  I know a lot of thought must go into providing something different visually each year.

I liked the projection, expression and energy of Martha Dawson in her aerobics sketch, very well done.

Under the Stairs had very imaginative costumes, dusters, brooms, mops etc, I particularly liked the Little April Showers number which had good harmonies and counter singing, which added interest.  The large spider was also very effective.

Gravity was extremely well performed both dancers and singers, with some lovely touches on the dance front – the closing tableau was very moving.

Six Words was very amusing and nicely performed by Luke Nixon, Zoe Andersone and Alice Humphries.

Dancing Round America gave the different groups loads of chance to create the diverse dances, which I really enjoyed.  Jay Thornton created a super Las Vegas character with plenty of good movement.  Whilst Alice Mitchell and Daniel Wright performed the Chicago number well.  The various groups coped well with the range of choreography and music.

The Doctors sketch was well thought out, with the participants giving plenty of meaning and humour to the sketch.

Super Singing was just that – the two featured singers Sophie Angel and Hannah Martin gave us a well sung duet, and as always the entire cast really bulked out the sound, sending us into the interval on a high. 

It was really nice as always, to meet some of the young people during the interval – they are so enthusiastic, and gave us an insight into the commitment needed from everyone in attending rehearsals etc, that combines to make this such a special production.

Act 2 started with the Pet Shop, again very imaginative costumes, the birds, rabbits and hamster wheel, plus others were really charming, with Elliot Brinkworth and Luke Nixon strutting their stuff – nicely done.

I loved the next singing number, Seth Baskerville, Lucy Topp, Laura Keating, Miles Kenny and Molly Luwero performed so well, I thoroughly enjoyed everything they achieved.

Sky was a very evocative scene, with the sun coming up and then going down again – most effective, with Katherine Blake and Tim Eridani-Ball leading the way extremely well.

SFX was well performed by Tom Bruxton, Anna Lofts and Eve Keane – another good number.

The Farmers Market was an excellent tongue in cheek musical sketch, but actually quite a true collection of observations, well sung and the solos were nicely achieved.

I thought the Akela number was very well-written with Jevon Langridge, Lily Palmer and Hannah Rees all giving plenty of expression and meaning to the words – very well done.

Then we came to the finale – good solos from Daniel Wright, Sophie Angel and Zoe Anderson, which lead to the inevitable wall of sound that is synonymous with a Gang Show finale – the tabs open and it hits you full in the face – perhaps not quite as full on as previous years, but this could be because of the younger ages of the cast, and not so many more mature voices to add depth – that said nothing was lost, and as always it was a fitting end to another super show, the audience enjoyed joining in the singing too.

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