Showtime Skills Muscial Thrills / Serendipity

St Philips Junior Workshop give us two for the price of one - a concert linked to the one act play we see penned by Mark Green about jobs.

A simple set is used with flats at the back for the play and concert. Glitter silver musical notes are used in the concert and one flats turns round to be used as a coffee machine. The set for the play has table and chairs in front with telephone on a table at the back. And two bay leaf trees in pots. Stage Left is a country type garden with garden furniture and greenery around the front and on the wall with flowers draped over the top. Set Design by Liane Critchley. Lighting helped move the show along and create atmosphere - There were some first night issues with sound and feedback hopefully that resolves as the week goes on.  Also note to cast - be careful not to speak as soon as you come off the stage - give Sound the chance to cut your mic as we could hear you. Lighting and Sound by WS Productions Ltd. The costumes were amazing for the concert but with only nine in the cast maybe it was a tall order to fully costume as we had to wait for a few numbers to start. They did look good though. Maybe if there were a few more solos that would have taken the pressure off the quick changes. I did notice everyone was given a chance to shine, I also liked everyone had the correct footwear in the concert, it looked so neat. The chimney sweep costume looked excellent. The costumes in the play were all fitting too. Wardrobe by Mina Kirkbright, Olive Etchelles and Janet Davenport. Musical Director and Choreographer was Liane Critchley putting them through their paces.

The Concert was a collection of 11 numbers with most of the company in the numbers bar one and everyone had their chance to shine. Fully costumed and the group looked to have fun with links spoken by the cast and intro into the next number. Jessica was a lovely as Mary Poppins in Practically Perfect with Kaitlyn and Erika. Who Will Buy was a delight with Holly, Jessica, Callum and Kaitlyn. Money, Money, Money with Kylah, Erika and Lacey I also enjoyed. Well done, everyone.

The play Serendipity with programme notes- that it means an unintended and unexpected but wonderful discovery or learning experience that happens accidentally. Under the direction of Mina Kirkbright the one act play is about two friends who decide to set up a gardening business with very little experience or tools in their sleepy village. What they didn’t bargain on was the interference from Harry’s sister Beth which although causes chaos ends up to be very helpful for them and the village. Serendipity indeed!

The cast - Erika Bonney as Luna Phoenix and Kaitlyn Walker as Tempest Fox are very interested in crop circles and get upset when it’s all a hoax. Kaitlyn also takes on one of the roles of Narrator.

Holly Sessions plays the journalist Janice Strong just wanting to write something different instead of reporting on bins not being emptied or missing cats. Lacey Jai played Sarah the gossipy narrator spilling all the tea and “not one to talk” but letting us all know what was going on.

Irate Neighbour was played by Kylah Green who had had enough of Bingo the goat eating her dad’s flowers. Great Character.

Matthew Entwistle who played Harry worked really well with the rest of the cast and he was a likeable character. Loved the duo with Callum Morris-Broome as Freddie and when they were running away hilarious including the Disney bag. Callum had great facial expressions. Some good comedy moments about confusion between the four. Jessica Bridge played Jess and was friends with Beth played by Rebecca Jackson. Beth was also the sister of Harry. They were believable as squabbling siblings and the fact she was thinking about hiring a murder on an instalment plan because of what he had let slip about her was so funny. The comedic fact of mistaking the situation and getting things wrong really worked and I thought Rebecca really drove the story through. Relaying the story about the godfather when in fact it was the cod father got a great reaction from the audience. Rebecca, Matthew, Jessica and Calum had good chemistry working well together. Well done.

Thank you for the invite and hospitality from my guest Rachel and I for an enjoyable evening.

District 5 Rep

Liz Hume-Dawson

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