Raise the Curtain

The set for this musical review was of a glamorous night club lined with four tables dotted round the stage, complete with chairs and white tablecloths, embellished with a menu and a single rose in a glass.   Approximately half the company were seated upstage, stage left to stage right on a low platform.

As the single sheet programme mentioned only the names of the company members, production team, stage crew and band, with no lists of songs, nor even who had sung what, I am unable to give details of the numbers performed.   I can however state, with conviction, that this production was a top class one, with polished performers throughout and a truly professional feel to the entire evening. The wide-ranging show numbers were well chosen and sung in almost every case, with panache, great emotion and included a full range of experienced vocalists of all ages, though some were very close to being considered old.

Company dance sequences were slick and assured, courtesy of choreographer Louise E. Wilson. The dancing was further enhanced by a group of vivacious and elastic legged young ladies under the banner of “Dance First”.

I must commend the excellent use of lighting provided by Richard Pike, who used the many changes of light colours to utmost effect in bringing suitable atmosphere to the many songs.   Sarah Wood and Tony Pike did sterling work operating follow spots.

The eight-piece band, under the assured command of Musical Director Colin Copestake, was of professional standard, giving tremendous support to all the performers whilst never overpowering them.

Stuart Vaughan in charge of sound played his full professional part in ensuring sound was clear and vibrant.  

Wardrobe mistress was Louise Burns who ensured a polished and excellent turnout of all on stage.

Vastly experienced director John Harries-Rees never fails to provide special shows and this magnetic revue was no exception.

It was good to see two charities, “Yorda Adventures” and “Freewheelers Theatre and Media Company” benefitting from the proceeds of this show.

The company were too numerous to mention them all, but the following singers and performers more than deserve to be mentioned and many of them had singing voices and comic timing of rare quality.   In alphabetical order they were:-

Claire Aston, Laura Barnes, Jacob Botha, Rachel Chalkley Gunton, Stephen Chalkley, Charlotte Fisher, Mandy Harris, Ben Horsburgh, Michelle Joyce, Ellie-Claire King, Liz Lindsay, Sarah Marr, Clare Ogle, Claire Padbury, Tom Paine, Barry Stevens,

I so enjoyed the comical touches throughout – and indeed would have preferred far more ideally – and just applaud the impeccable comic timing and juicy bon mots of MC Barrie Ward which added hugely to the overall professional feel of this charming and oh so slick stunner of a revue.

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