Miscast Musicals

Miscast Musicals is a show with a difference, giving the performers a chance sing songs they would not typically be given the opportunity and for more inexperienced members to gain confidence to take on solos performing in front of a live audience.  The chosen numbers took the audience through different periods of musicals and songs through the ages and was introduced by the excellent audience communicator Jon Wray, a task in which he so excels. 

The time line covered songs from historic periods starting with the Henry VIII production of Six, and then including Les Misérables, Chicago and West Side Story. After the interval we heard a couple of  Motown songs and others from Matilda and Kinky Boots. They certainly kept the best till last with the final selection entitled ‘We Will Rock You’ featuring the full ensemble who had the whole audience on their feet enjoying some ‘Queen’ classics.

This was in no way is a full-scale musical and is difficult for the cast members to get thoroughly immersed into their characters as they are constantly changing to include the reversal of gender roles on which the production is based. Seasoned and talented performers such as Callum Limer, Karen Long and Eloise Jackson gave charisma and polish and kept the plot moving and were joined with some excellent singing from members of the ladies chorus who excelled.  There were also nice cameos from some of the newer  and returning members of the group including from Sophie Prescott and Kate Webb. The full ensemble numbers were well performed with the whole cast injecting life and energy into the dance numbers which were well choreographed by Eloise Jackson. It was also such a joy to see Jill Smith back on stage again and doing what she loves so well. 

Sue Ogden, MD and conductor for the evening had re-arranged key changes for the different singers  and included some good harmony work.  The band arrangements had been put together by Ed Gerrie, and the excellent six piece band added quality to the production.

Costumes were in the main just ‘blacks’ with a few added items pertinent to the numbers being performed. The lighting was excellent and added some razmataz to the performance along with some good projected images which set the scene for the various periods of time so only limited props were required. With special mention to Gregory Jordan  for the way he was able project the email being written in time with the words being sung in one of the scenes.

All the cast should be congratulated on their unrelenting efforts and to produce an evening of entertainment for their audience who appreciated hearing some numbers from their favourite musicals.

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