Roles Reversed

‘Roles Reversed’ was a one night only musical based show flipping the script… literally. Performers took on songs traditionally written for another gender or age, offering fresh interpretations of loved musical theatre numbers. It was a celebration of range, reinvention, and the freedom to step into roles not usually offered simply because of gender/age. From golden-age showtunes to modern West End hits, there were many iconic songs performed with surprising new voices. 

The show delivered two hours of fast-paced, feel-good entertainment, seamlessly blending comedy with moments of raw emotion. Not only did Emma Ellson showcase her powerful vocals, she was also the musical director. There were some beautiful moments of harmony, especially at the end of ‘Stars’, performed by herself, Chloe Ellson, Jill Heath and Julie Walton and ’It’s All Coming Back to Me’ by Karen Curson and Chris Thirwell. While the company numbers were impressively rehearsed, a few of the songs, in my opinion, would have benefitted from a key adjustment to better suit the ensemble’s vocal range. That said, there were a lot of standout moments from the cast. Katherine Smith’s rendition of ‘For Forever’ was simply exquisite. It’s such a tricky song to sing, full of emotion, yet it was done with ease. Jill Heath, performing ‘Hushaby Mountain’ was charming and captivating. Along with these emotive performances were some moments of pure comedy. I particularly enjoyed Niamh Curson and Ellie Miles’ version of ‘You and Me (But Mostly Me), capturing the essence of this song perfectly. Alex McKenzie’s rendition of ‘Little Girls’ has the audience chuckling along, as did his duet of ‘Popular’ with Chris Taylor. Along with these standout numbers, the company also provided some brilliant numbers such as ‘Revolting Children’, ‘Gaston’ and ‘Omigod You Guys’. As an audience member, you could really see how much fun the cast were having on stage. This is something I admire most about Irchester Players’ performances, they have so much enthusiasm and give it their all. 

Produced by Alex McKenzie, with direction and choreography by Chloe Ellson, the staging and choreography was inventive and well-suited for the dance abilities of the cast. Chloe’s choreography had hints of iconic moves such as those by the Jersey Boys in ‘Walk Like a Man’ and Newsies for ‘Seize the Day’. 

Although the props were minimal, they were fitting for the numbers, such as the newspapers for ‘Seize the Day’ and the cocktail theme of ‘Piña Colada’. The costumes were simple with a theme of red and black, by keeping one costume throughout, it ensured the brisk pace was kept throughout. 

The lighting was creative, adding subtle colour cues echoing the original shows, though a minor glitch at the end of Act One left performers in darkness prematurely. Despite this, the cast continued without distraction, like true professionals! In previous productions, there have been sound issues but I’m pleased to say that these issue were not present this time. I felt this was the best sound quality provided in comparison to other performances I’ve seen by Irchester Players, well done! 

In all, ‘Roles Reversed’ was a joyful, imaginative night of musical theatre that left the audience smiling and wanting more. Congratulations to everyone involved in this successful production! 

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