Magic Of The Musicals

I was warmly welcomed on arrival at Front of House and had the chance to speak with Directors Sammi Johnson and Sabrina Browning during the interval and at the end of the performance. The Community Centre Hall was almost full for this lively production which showcased some stellar talent from the junior cast. In fact juniors outnumbered the adult cast in a testament to the ability of this society to attract and retain junior talent.

The show consisted of extracts from seven familiar musicals with some sections specifically focused on the junior cast. From the beginning the show was energetic with some great choreographed routines carried out very well. Thanks to the many choreographers involved, as listed, there was variety in the set pieces with good movement around the stage and the constructed apron which provided additional space closer to the audience.

It’s always difficult, with a show like this, to flag and identify particular performers as this was a talented adult and junior cast with everyone tackling their parts with huge enthusiasm and ability. The sequence from Wicked featured Gracie and Matilda Seager as the witches Elphaba and Glinda with the full company and I especially enjoyed their voices in Defying Gravity. Well done. The next sequence was from Hairspray with Lyla Parry sparkling in Good Morning Baltimore and the full company involved in a noisy and energetic version of You Can’t Stop The Beat. Very infectious! Next up was a selection from Moulin Rouge and Charlea and James Finbow excelled in Come What May, their voices blending well together. This duet was a delight to listen to and to see. The first Act concluded with music from High School Musical featuring the junior company. Evelyn Marriott and Amelia Browning displayed their good vocal range in the upbeat Breaking Free.

Act Two introduced Annie with the junior company singing a rousing rendition of It’s The Hard Knock Life. Sandie Finbow was the irascible Miss Hannigan and Erin and Gavin Ostler delivered the lovely duet Tomorrow. The next selection from Mamma Mia really excited the audience with the familiar numbers delivered very competently. It was good to see Cheryll Burton give an emotional solo of The Winner Takes It All and Becky Thomas and Eleanor McCullough singing a delicate interpretation of Slipping Through My Fingers. Well done everyone involved in this selection.

Finally a selection from The Greatest Showman drew the show to an end. And what a busy and energetic finale. Ray Seager was so well cast as the Showman with a great duet with James Finbow in The Other Side and Fiona Rogers shone in This Is Me. It was good to see Jacob Woodgate perform with lots of confidence. Congratulations to the cartwheelers and hooplar spinners and to Analeigh and Kaiya Perera for an excellent ballet routine.

The major prop was the very realistic Windmill to stage left and scene changes, although minimal,were carried out fluently. The costumes, masterminded by Cheryll Burton and Julie Wardley were colourful and relevant to the characters and looked stunning !

Many congratulations to Directors Sammi Johnson and Sabrina Browning for their talent and creativity in devising this production and then bringing it to stage. All the cast had so much to do and delivered a cracking show. Well done everyone.

 

 

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