Miscast Magic

Theatre SSL Productions made their debut with a bang last year with their production of Avenue Q, and have followed it up in style with a concert featuring a special twist.  All of the songs in Miscast Magic were performed by someone who would not normally be able to do so in the production from which they originate.  Primarily this meant men performing songs written for women and vice versa, but I wasn’t familiar with all of the songs so there may have been some others that I didn’t spot.  An ingenious idea, and one which provided an opportunity for the performers to tick off a bucket list performance that would otherwise have been out of reach.

Masterminded by Hannah Finch, who amazingly pulled this show off just two weeks after giving birth, and Musical Director Joanne Remes, Miscast Magic featured an 11-strong ensemble, each of whom took a solo turn in the spotlight.   Compered impeccably by the very dapper looking Ben Adams, the evening got off to a lively start as the company got stuck into ‘13’ from the musical of the same name (the ‘miscast’ element being that none of them were actually 13!)  This was followed up with Verity Smith’s passionate ‘Waving through a Window’ from Dear Evan Hansen and Kieron Hoult having a whale of a time with the bar-room style ‘Screw Loose’ from Cry Baby.  

Emma Shaw brought the Fosse style with ‘Mr Cellophane’ from Cabaret, after which the ladies ensemble showed off their gentlemen sailor side with a strutting ‘There’s Nothing Like a Dame’ from South Pacific.  The great performances kept on coming with Scott Carwright’s intense, very well sung ‘Come to Your Senses’ from Tick Tick Boom, after which Tom Mullins, Ben Adams and Robin Chorley-Merrell donned their green capes and Princess Fiona attitudes for a very entertaining ‘I Know it’s Today’ from Shrek.  It was then Beth Marden’s turn to find her voice, before the men took on ‘Don’t Lose Your Head’ from Six.  It was interesting to see the variety of approaches being taken, with some performers choosing to echo the originals, whilst others leant more in to the differences.

Next up was Janet Fryer, accompanied by Emma Shaw, giving it some Elder style with ‘All American Prophet’ from The Book of Mormon.  She was helped out by a trio of puppets, taking the roles of Joseph Smith, Moroni and Brigham Young – a neat little echo of Avenue Q.  Young performers Evie Pavlovs and Tessy Hawkesford then took the stage for a version of ‘You Love Who You Love’ from Bonnie and Clyde – an absolute powerhouse duet that sent shivers down the spine. 

Bringing the first half to a close was Eva Beckford, donning the crown as King George for a fun version of ‘You’ll Be Back’, before the company returned for a stirring ‘When Children Rule the World’ from Whistle Down the Wind.  What a great evening, and we were only half way through! 

The interval provided an opportunity to marvel at the technical expertise of Paul and Jacob Finch of Theatre SSL, who had somehow managed to shoehorn a substantial lighting rig into the function room at Redditch Borough FC, along with a black curtain for a backdrop, with a number of stage blocks providing additional interest as the performers moved them around the space.  It was also fun to spot the many fellow performers in the audience, with the members of other local musical theatre groups out in force to support the show. 

The second half began with the company performing ‘If Only You Would Listen’ from School of Rock, another number usually performed by a rather younger cast!  Tap shoes were then to the fore with a very entertaining rendition of Book of Mormon’s ‘Turn it Off’ by the ladies ensemble, after which Tom Mullins showed great diction as he sang of his ‘Heart of Stone’ in a second visit to the musical Six.  The ladies then got their testosterone going with a comically laddish version of ‘Single’ from the Wedding Singer, complete with some nice choreography. 

It was then time for our compere Ben Adams to take the spotlight himself for ‘Nothing Short of Wonderful’ from Dogfight, after which Carys Chorley took us through her family album in ‘Everything I Know’ from In the Heights.  Young stars Evie Pavlovs and Tessy Hawkesford  then returned for ‘What You Own’ from Rent, before the ladies ensemble temporarily joined the audience for a powerfully rendered ‘Bui Doi’ from Miss Saigon.  We remained in Vietnam for Joanne Remes’s angst-ridden ‘Movie in my Mind’. 

Bringing the show to a close were Ben Adams and Tom Mullins singing ‘For Good’ from Wicked, before the whole company joined together to bemoan their fates in ‘Campfire Song’ from The Lightning Thief.  The broad smiles on the faces of the cast during this final number served to demonstrate their joy in singing and performance, which proved to be infectious as they received a well-deserved ovation from the audience.  And there was still time for Eva Beckford to commandeer the stage, and the company, for a suitably raucous version of ‘Revolting Children’ from Matilda.

My congratulations to all at Theatre SSL Productions for a most enjoyable and intriguing evening out.  I look forward to seeing what you have up your sleeves next!

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