Miracle on 34th Street

I remember with love and great pride, playing the role of Kris Kringle (no makeup required!) in Miracle On 34th Street with Southmoor Musical Society several years ago, so I was looking forward to this production; in place of my NODA ‘buddy’ Michael Avery who couldn’t make it.

When a Society takes on the challenge of performing a Broadway Musical on a community hall stage, with all of the problems that suggests, it is a very brave choice. To then have to suffer the loss of Musical Director, accompanists and some leading actors, adding insult to injury, as it were, is unconscionable. To get to a first night having overcome all of these problems is well worth a standing ovation. Congratulations for this epic effort to the whole team at Ponteland Rep. This is what our fabulous ‘hobby’ is all about!.

The entire space at Ponteland Community Hall is used in this production, including the bar and kitchen areas as visible short-cuts from stage through to the auditorium. Congratulations Sarah Blythe on her directorial debut for the innovative thinking. She and her assistant Hayley Grant used all the space available to good use. We had several parades and marches through the audience to great effect.

Well done also to Adam Roff for his sterling work on the technical side and to Joseph Grant and David Blythe for their work backstage.

Musical Director Nick Butters (one of the late stand-ins), and his trio delivered the difficult score well, and the adult and excellent youth ensemble performed the music and the action with gusto and enthusiasm. Well done!. They were very attentive and remained focussed throughout.

The principals were super. Special mention must go to the two leading ladies – Hayley Grant as the singular independent and successful Doris Walker, and the undoubted star of the show, 7 years old April Olsen who lit up the stage every time she came on. A ‘natural’ who will go far – remember the name!. They were joined by the excellent Martin Anderson as Kris, and Jason Long in the heroic role of Fred Gailey. All nicely sung and acted. There was some good support from Philip Browell as Macy, Alex Finlayson-Heap as Shellhammer, Director Sarah in the role of Tammany, Emma McGhee as the Judge and Iona McGhee as the District Attorney.

The undoubted emotional rollercoaster this show has brought about is one, which, I’m sure will live in the memory of those who have endured the rehearsal build-up and completed the production, with all of the heart they could muster, for many years. Well done to all!.

Many thanks from me and my companion Pauleen for the invitation. We enjoyed our evening.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.