Love is in the Air

Set in the beautiful St George’s Church, Barbourne, the Café Romanza formed the back-drop for a Summer concert of a selection of love songs – quite appropriate on the eve of the Royal wedding!

The ‘Menu’ for the evening was a selection of ‘Starters’, ‘Main course’ and ‘Desserts’ from a range of familiar musical numbers and some not so familiar but nevertheless all well presented. It would be difficult to highlight every one of them, although the action never flagged, but some of the notable numbers in Act 1included ‘Something Stupid’, Killing Me Softly’, ‘Please Mr Postman’ and ‘Do You Love Me’ (Colin Wilks and Christine Davies) and ‘As Long As He Needs Me’ sung by Rebecca Fearnley. The ‘Dessert’ selection  enabled us all to join in the singing and Act 1 finished with a very impressive and beautifully arranged full chorus version of ‘Somewhere’ from West Side Story.

At the interval the cast served the audience with a very welcome ‘high tea’ and a glass of punch that was a real treat.

Act 2 opened with Chopin’s ‘Nocturne Op.9 No. 2 in Eb Major played by David Arthur, who proved to be an accomplished musical director and sole pianist for the entire evening. This was followed by the chorus singing ‘If Music Be The Food of Love’ and an excellent rendition of ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’ sang by Lisa Adams. The remaining love songs were from a selection of operettas by Gilbert & Sullivan, culminating in two numbers from The Mikado, including ‘Brightly Dawns our Wedding Day’, which I recommend is supported when the entire operetta is performed at The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster in October.

The links between each ‘course’ were amusingly and professionally served by our Café Proprietor and compere for the evening Colin Wilks. Congratulation to the cast and Director Berny Murray and thank you for your kind invitation and hospitality. I certainly look forward to seeing the next production of The Mikado.

Bruce Wyatt

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