Show Stoppers

This was a concert with a difference.  The first half comprised “songs from the shows” chosen by the cast, so they were a little different from the usual, standard concert fare.  Songs from shows like Spamalot, Mary Poppins, Wicked and Hairspray were interspersed with more familiar pieces from the likes of Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady and Les Miserables.  The result was an entertaining and interesting first half for me, since I haven’t seen any of those first four shows.

After the interval, we were treated to a “concert” version of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’. trimmed sufficiently to make a perfect second half without losing the narrative or the familiar musical numbers.

This is my third visit to Hexham as NODA Regional Representative and I am beginning to recognise a few faces.  Mari Stewart, Henry Teuma, Clair Caris and Albert Simpson all acquitted themselves very well in solo spots in the first half (actually Albert’s piece was a duet with Beryl Amos), as did the less familiar faces.  They also made solid contributions to Joseph in the second half. 

According to the programme, there were as many as 52 performers available for the chorus numbers which, as ever, were most impressive, especially in the rock n rolling finale to the first half, and the multi coloured finale to the second half.  The orchestra, comprising just four players, enhanced the proceedings considerably and were nicely balanced with the singers.   Which leads me on to the sound which I always find very clear and balanced at Hexham, which cannot always be said for some larger venues.  There is no credit in the programme for sound so I assume it is handled by an in-house team at the Queen’s Hall.  If that is correct, the company have much to be grateful for.

So, as always, I thoroughly enjoyed my evening in Hexham, hearing an interesting mix of songs, some very good individual performances and excellent ensemble numbers from orchestra and full chorus.  I also had the pleasure of presenting a 50 year NODA medal to musical director, James Laidlaw, for whom this was to be his last show with the Company

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