Musical Mayhem

Produced by Ruth Purton and Gareth O’Reilly, Musical Mayhem by Amlwch Show Stoppers was an entertaining celebration of musical theatre, featuring a wide collection of well-known songs and dances from both classic and contemporary productions. 

On arriving at the Memorial Hall, I found my place at one of the cabaret style tables and the show began. 

Performed by the Adult, Senior and Junior casts, the show highlighted the talent within this welcoming community group. It was clear throughout the afternoon that everyone involved genuinely enjoys performing, and their enthusiasm was infectious, earning warm appreciation from the audience.

One of the highlights of the production was the use of live music. Under the musical direction of Jason Walker, and accompanied by Dan Jones, Ruth Purton, Gareth O’Reilly, Lexi Roberts-West and Ruth Lowe, the orchestra provided support to several songs and complimented the performances.

The programme offered an impressive variety of musical numbers. The Teen cast delivered a confident performance of Ex-Wives from Six, complete with well-rehearsed choreography and strong vocals. The ladies impressed with a spirited renditions of Hail Holy Queen from Sister Act and Mega Six from Six, while a super performance of From Now On benefitted greatly from the excellent live accompaniment.

There were eighteen songs, all of which were performed with enthusiasm.  It was obvious the cast had worked hard to prepare and very much enjoyed performing. The first half concluded with a lively, full-cast performance of Shake a Tail Feather, sending the audience into the interval on a high. 

The energy continued into the second half with many memorable moments, including a lovely rendition of Starlight Express, a hugely enjoyable Time Warp, and an energetic full-cast performance of Since You’ve Been Gone, featuring particularly impressive choreography. The evening finished on an upbeat note with I’m a Believer, providing a fitting finale that had the audience leaving with smiles on their faces.
The lighting and sound were consistently good throughout the performance. The costumes, made primarily from bespoke printed T-shirts, were effective and helped reinforce the group’s strong community feel.

The cast and crew worked incredibly hard to deliver a fun and entertaining afternoon for the audience. This impressive team included 48 performers, the creative team, choreographers, technical crew, chaperones, and front-of-house volunteers. It is always nice to see young talent emerging and it must be said that this group encourages all its younger members and gives them the opportunity to shine. Congratulations to you all.

With such an extensive programme, it is impossible to mention every individual performance. However, Musical Mayhem was a show packed with fun, energy and enthusiasm from start to finish. The enjoyment of the cast was evident in every number, and that enjoyment was shared wholeheartedly by the appreciative audience. Amlwch Show Stoppers once again demonstrated the strength of community theatre, delivering an afternoon of entertainment that celebrated the joy of musical performance.

Thank you for inviting me.  I look forward to seeing what you do next.

 

The views in this report are solely the opinion of the writer.

 

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