Shout

~~Set in London during the decade 1960/70 it’s the era of flower power and women’s lib. ‘Shout’ is a magazine for the modern woman. The musical tells of five girls flipping through their lives each indentified by colour representing their differing personalities. They face life changing circumstances through consulting Gwendolyn Holmes the mags agony aunt performed offstage by Angela Patrick, as did the Voice of the Magazine beautifully narrated by Brian Fagg. The rousing opening comprised ‘England Swings’, ‘Round Every Corner’ and ‘I know a Place’. We experienced hilarious stories, mod reflections with poignant moments of discovery and there was no holding back! Staging was essentially black in three layers with flower power decoration around the stage with five colour backcloth. Use of coloured cubes within the set worked really well.   Lighting using alternating bulbs and coloured bulbs for the SHOUT sign was excellent under technical director John Sewell. Costuming was perfect for an era well remembered - colourful, PVC white lace up boots, scarves and jaunty caps! The live 6 piece band led Steve Bowen was a bonus and the girls plus three backing singers were terrific showing off their strong part harmonies, something not so often heard now. Multi tasking Heather produced a superb performance bringing together notable characterising from Kirsty Rollings as Red Girl performing a ‘Those Were the Days’, Samantha Hallam holding absolutely nothing back as Green girl, Natalie Cheese, posh  and uncertain of her sex Blue Girl, American Yellow Girl Hannah Ridley obsessed with Paul McCartney and performing a superb ‘Son of a Preacher Man’, whilst Joanna Wright was the Orange girl  ‘Are you ready boots? Start walking!  There was huge applause which really made you ’Wanna Shout – Yeh’!

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