Simply the Best

On Saturday 8th March, I was delighted to accept an invitation to see the latest production from one of District 2’s newest members, The Chaddeans. New to D2 but not a new organisation, we’re thrilled to have them with us.

Their latest show, Simply the Best, was a glitzy, glamorous and fun celebration of some of the most beloved West End shows, featuring numbers from Carousel, Hello, Dolly!, Bugsy Malone, Sister Act and many, many more. The performance took place at the beautiful Poulton-Le-Fylde Community Hall, which hosts a range of performances and events for the community. Recently, the hall and its volunteers were honoured to receive The King’s Award for Voluntary Service — the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK. The award is equivalent to an MBE and is awarded for life.

It was evident from the outset that The Chaddeans are something truly special — a dedicated performance group made up of super-enthusiastic participants, many from multiple generations of the same families, existing to put a smile on the faces of audiences. Mission accomplished with this show!

The mastermind behind Simply the Best was Sara Daniels, who acted as director, choreographer and MD, as well as performing in the show herself. It was clear what high regard she is held in by The Chaddeans, and the trust they have in her to produce these shows — and it was easy to see why. Every T crossed, every I dotted, nothing left to chance and every detail carefully considered for maximum impact. Huge credit to Daniels, whose skill cannot be underestimated.

On then to the performances. It’s fair to say this show was a true ensemble effort, and everyone had their chance to shine. The Chaddeans ripped through forty (yes, forty!) musical numbers over the course of the show, and one would be hard-pressed to pick out a weak link. There was an excellent mix of well-known pieces and slightly more obscure songs, meaning there really was something for everyone.

Beginning with Another Op’nin’, Another Show from Kiss Me, Kate was a definitive statement of intent for the evening — The Chaddeans were here to entertain! There were many high points in Act 1, but I’ll pick out just a few.

Trevor’s performance of Black Hills of Dakota, ably supported by his castmates, was excellent — a strong voice delivering accomplished lead vocals, making it impossible for the audience to ignore.

The whole cast joined forces to deliver a barnstorming version of the iconic song Oklahoma! from the show of the same name. It was a high-energy wall of sound that had the audience in raptures. Powerful stuff, beautifully delivered.

Phillipa followed straight after with a performance of You’ll Never Walk Alone which was a knockout, triggering a few tears in the auditorium.

Then came a medley of songs from Hair, which delivered a punchy and uplifting impact. Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In was a particular highlight for me, with immaculate vocals. Great choices from The Chaddeans — nostalgic yet anything but stale.

Act 1 drew to a close with a delightful medley of hits from Sister Act, which was a perfect choice — uplifting, fun, energetic and hugely enjoyable. The audience went into the interval on a high, and rightly so.

Following the brief interlude, The Chaddeans had the bit between their teeth once more, and Act 2 picked up precisely where Act 1 had left off in terms of energy, joy and good old-fashioned fun. We were treated to a colourful and glamorous medley from Copacabana, which went down a storm.

Medleys were the order of the day, and Copacabana was directly followed by Bugsy Malone, a show often pigeonholed as simply a “kids’ musical” but actually jam-packed with brilliant songs. Fat Sam’s Grand Slam was huge fun and got endless toes tapping, while Milli’s version of My Name is Tallulah was smoky, sultry and beautifully sung — a well-received addition to the programme.

From Bugsy Malone, we quickly moved to Guys and Dolls, the songs from which were sharp, well-rehearsed and great fun. Sid’s version of Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat was just brilliant.

As the show drew toward its conclusion, we entered the disco era and were treated to a bright, colourful section that somehow took the fun up yet another notch. Songs like Disco Inferno and Shake a Tailfeather were fantastic, and looking around the auditorium, it was obvious that many audience members were itching to be up and dancing along with The Chaddeans. The party was in full flow!

The performance concluded with foot-stomping versions of Nutbush City Limits and Proud Mary, led by the show’s mastermind, Sara Daniels, who relished the opportunity to showcase her powerhouse vocals, more than capably supported by the whole ensemble. I’m not sure they could have ended the show any better if they’d tried — and indeed, the audience demanded an immediate encore of the final songs. They were loving it!

Huge thanks to The Chaddeans for the invitation and hospitality. Simply the Best was a show that lived up to its name — an absolute blast from first note to last. Good luck with next year’s show!

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