Half A Sixpence

CATS Youth Theatre has over 40 youth members performing in the new version of Half A Sixpence which sees a mature Arthur Kipps looking back over his life, realising money is not everything. With new songs and scenes Cats Costume team led by Paul Cohen & Karen Hogben took on the massive challenge, colourful, beautiful and setting the scene wonderfully.

The set as always worked well, multifuctional and built in house, with scenes which had to switch back and forth. Transitions were smooth often while action was still going on to keep the pace up. Well done to Alan Dodd and Simon White for Set Design.

Musical Director Louise Cohen had obviously worked very hard with the cast, enabling Guest Conductor David Wilson along with the Orchestra to create the conviviality the score demanded.

St Catherine’s is a difficult space to light, but here the Lighting Design managed to make moments of intimacy for the audience by avoiding the bleach out often risked with such open areas.

The Direction gave a cohesive feel to the show with all elements coming together, starting with a strong opening to the show and maintaining the right pace throughout.

Em Cohen’s choreography is energetic and creative. It’s all about creating pictures and she did. All In The Case Of Economy and Flash Bang Wallop were fabulous to watch.

Elliot Hogben playing Kipps took on this massive role and pitched it perfectly, looking back on his journey through the character’s eyes – this was a very mature performance and well-rounded with good cockney accent - his heart was definitely ‘out there’ as this performance led the cast. What Should I Feel was en pointe and worked well with Ann played by Em Cohen and Lucy White as Helen Walshingham.

There was a great camaraderie with the shop boys too, Kenyon Garrish playing Sid, Oliver Gaskell as Buggins and Harry Cohen giving us Pearce. All had their individual characters well thought out and distinct.

Billy Currid playing the eccentric theatre lovie Chitterlow delivers a dramatically gestured characterisation, suitably exaggerated without going over the top.

On a general note, I did miss some of the dialogue through occasional rushing of lines and the main door into the shop was made all the more noticeable in that it did not have glass in it by cast using the frame to open the door rather than the handles (I’m sure Louise will have pointed this out in rehearsals!).

Overall, the cast worked well together and the Ensemble supported the main cast effectively to add to this show’s success. It is always so lovely to see so many young people enjoying themselves in paying tribute to an older generation classic.

Thank you for inviting me and making my guest and I so welcome - and a bonus,

I won the raffle, thanks again!

 

 

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