Magic of the Musicals

I assume that, when creating a show such as this, it is very difficult to know what to include or exclude  This assumption is borne out by the directors’ notes in the programme.  However, Liz Rolph and Elliott Papworth did a splendid job presenting a broad variety of items from some of the major musicals past and present. 

The inventive opening number “It’s a Musical” came pre-overture getting things off to a good start. This was a rousing and well performed number by the whole company and indeed, the following twenty eight items including solos, duets, small and full chorus groupings were of the same high standard. 

Shows of this type give all members of the company the opportunity to sing and this society has some very good soloists. The singing throughout was excellent and the arrangements, the choreography and movement were also all delivered with polished accomplishment.   

The pairing in the duets were very complimentary in both halves of the programme.  The soloists without exception were excellent and singling anyone out is really unfair but I must just mention the fabulous voices of soloists Laura Jolley and Joseph Beach.   

There was a couple of real fun items. That old favourite  “Brush up Your Shakespeare” and - new to me from Elf - “Sparklejollytwinklejingly”  I loved “Now I’ve seen You” (Honk) sung by Andy McGowan and “Everything I Know” (In the Heights) sung by Rhiannon McBean. Thanks too for including my all time favourite song from Little Shop of Horrors “Suddenly Seymour” (Jamie Maguire & Lauren Hobbs) .  

The Company numbers, in fact all the numbers the ensemble were involved in were superb particularly ‘Rhythm of Life’ and ‘One Day More’.   Although I confess to not knowing several of the shows some of songs came from they all worked out of context and may make me, and possibly anyone else unfamiliar with these shows, interested in seeing them.  There was enough familiar songs in the programme to spike memories and several really nice new ones which would bear hearing again. 

It must be very difficult to costume this type of show with so many participants and styles but the costumes were fine.  The lighting suffered from dark patches at times particularly when performers were on top of the stairs but compliments on the use of the radio mics which thankfully worked very smoothly.  Praise too for the very informative programme notes which gave a couple of lines about each show the songs came from.

This was an especially well-directed and well-choreographed show.  The directors (Liz Rolph and Elliott Papworth) used the ensemble to create tableaux and stage pictures throughout ensuring the stage was visually interesting at all times.  The choreography by that talented pairing of Jess Clifford and Andy Thorpe was clever and interesting and skilfully executed by all involved.  The musical arrangements by MD Mark Aldous were absolutely splendid which the performers did full justice to. 

The whole show was full of eclectic music, enormous energy, great enthusiasm and obvious enjoyment by the performers which transferred to the audience .  All in all, this was a superb evening's entertainment.

 

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