Over The Sledge

This was an evening of pure quality entertainment in all aspects and a great run-up to the Christmas season. The new, modern Beehive theatre was the perfect venue to stage this funny, slick and extremely varied review, all performed by a very talented cast. An innovative start to the show of a projected vehicle appearing as if occupied by each individual audience member travelling through Honiton and arriving in the theatre carpark created an exciting welcome!

The staging of any successful show needs careful planning, coordination and masses of rehearsal time; all of this was creditably evident in this performance. Lighting design and set were minimalistic but still an integral part of its achievement along with an excellent, balanced sound system. Needless to say a multitude of the obligatory Christmas jumper and Santa hats appeared throughout the evening, adding to the fun.

Devised with all ages in mind, the programme was as eclectic as it could get! Chorus numbers, poems, sketches, touches of pantomime and even a taste of Shakespeare to name just a few! All performed with energy and that little extra something that leaves you wanting more! Continuity was ‘bang on’ with little chance of the audience losing focus. The content backbone concentrated on quality comedy with the Christmas theme cleverly woven through.

Musical numbers were well represented with songs from ‘Cabaret’, ‘Fairy-tale in New York’ along with a hilarious, almost slapstick, and alternative ‘Twelve days of Christmas’. All entertaining and performed to an exceptional standard.

Although, without doubt, all performances were worthy of mention, One of the best of the evening was a twelve person, (very apt) acapella version of ‘Only You’. Harmonies were tight, timing and tuning as accurate as it gets and yes, finished beautifully in the key it was started in! A glorious sound!

Add into the evening’s mix, a substantial yummy supper in the interval, Christmas carols for the finale, result; a more than satisfied audience heading for home with that warm feeling that Christmas was on its very merry way.

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