Pasek & Paul, Irving Berlin, Menken & Ashman Wymsical

Once again over 20 ‘Encore’ students presented a new choice of musical numbers, from a range of composers recently studied. Some they will most likely have not come across before, for which they should be given extra credit for the manner in which they were presented.

No better way of course than to kick off with Berlin’s ‘There’s no Business Like Show Business’ sung by the company, to be followed by Menken’s ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ with some nice harmonies. Linus Hughes took the first solo ‘When I lost you’ from ‘Standard’  already showing signs of increased confidence and this was followed by Beth Lawson, Cameron Morris, Jess Young and Max Price singing ‘Cheek to Cheek’ from ‘Top Hat’. Georgie Levine sang ‘Colours of the Wind’ with expression and feeling and it was good to see her move downstage a little. (There were other occasions throughout the concert when I was willing the soloists to take a brave step further downstage, which I think would have helped make their numbers stronger).

Mimi Groves did well ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’ and Ellie Morris gave a very expressive, well-acted and  controlled ‘Pretty Funny’  from Pasek & Paul’s ‘Dogfight’.  There was some good grouping in the company number ‘A Kid at Christmas’ and Kaitlyn Norwood’s ‘The Life I Never Led’ from ‘Sister Act’ was really good. Phoebe McIntosh gave a strong, positive performance with ‘Watch What Happens’ by Feldman & Menken and Part 1 closed with the company singing ‘Human Again’ from ‘Beauty And The Beast’.

Part 2 opened with the company having a ‘Jolly Good Time’ from ‘A Christmas Carol’ and there were some nice harmonies in ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Blue Skies’. ’Speechless’ sung by Laura Harding was good and Lucy Allsop provided some nice light and shade singing ‘Audition’ from Pasek & Pauls’s ‘La La Land’. Aran Hall led  the company well with ‘This is Me’, joined by Lucy Allsop on drums, a nice touch and Neave Lawson-Dallow put some very nice expression into ‘True Love’s Kiss’ from ‘Enchanted’. Jess Young had a sweet voice and put some lovely feeling into ‘Always’ by Irving Berlin and the concert concluded with the company singing  ‘Seize the Day’ by Feldman & Menken, including some good tap from 5 of the dancers.

Congratulations to all involved and I look forward to “A Wymsical Christmas” in December.

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