On With the Show

ON WITH THE SHOW was a brilliant and uplifting compilation show featuring a variety of genres of musical theatre.    The opening scene showed, via a pre-recorded film, the group trying to decide on their next production.   And how the show ran was decided by a roulette wheel with the options given: Jukebox, Historical, Classics, Disney, Black Lace and Bowler Hats and Wildcard.    

The set was simple: a steel frame bridge with staircases either side and door below for entrances and exits.    The wings either side were also used for access and egress.   

The costumes were amazing.    There were a variety of costumes:  the black lace and bowler hats, the Queens from ‘Six’, period costumes for Don’t Rain on My Parade, Windy City and Sally Manning’s transformation dress for her solo ‘Let it Go’ from Frozen, was inspired and very clever.   

There was great use of colour with the lighting such as green for ‘Wicked’, Red for ‘Chicago’ and blue in ‘Dear Evan Hanson’.   The sound was good, projection excellent, sound balance perfect and voices crystal clear and in time.

This show was amazing from start to finish and was topped and tailed by popular ABBA songs, opening with Mamma Mia and closing with the ever popular, Dancing Queen.    The entire show was amazing and fresh and felt like a shot of sunshine on a grey and gloomy evening.    It was full of enthusiasm, well-choreographed and executed dance numbers and a good deal of humour. The humour was particularly noticeable in ‘The Book of Mormon’ song, ‘Hello’.     There was the light hearted Luck be a lady from Guys and Dolls and operatic intensity of All Is Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera.    Every number was performed with polish and its impossible to mention everything. But I must mention the spine tingling ‘Let it go’ from Sally Manning and Rhiannon More showed her considerable stage presence and vocal range in ‘Don’t Rain on my parade’.     The large creative team must have worked tireless to achieve such a high standard of performance and this show was a great choice as it enabled a large number of the cast to be in the spotlight and showcase their talents.  All in all, a ridiculously enjoyable evening and one that I hope will be repeated in the future.

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