Sing!Sing!sing!

I do so look forward to seeing Belper Musical Theatre’s annual concert as they are always so vibrant, so polished and so well delivered.

‘Sing! Sing! Sing!’ certainly lived up to all of those expectations. The concert contained some twenty two items including some very familiar musical show stoppers, some from more recent musical shows and songs from renowned and not so well- known artists. The concert opened with the title song from ‘The Greatest Showman’ with Andrew Buxton so ably taking the lead backed by the whole company - a truly ‘great’ fabulous start.  Indeed, all the numbers involving the whole company, with some superb solo inputs from Brian Counter, Rebekah Dean, Elizabeth Brookes, Matthew Shaw, Jan Outram, Remi Hines, Sarah Jackson, Jen Lewis and Sarah Stone, were so gloriously and harmoniously sung and so exceptionally delivered. The interspersed solo items were truly exquisite. Sarah Jackson’s singing of ‘When He Sees Me’ from The Waitress was so movingly sung, Jan Outram’s lovely voice was so much in evidence in her singing of ‘I know I Need To Be In Love’ by The Carpenters, Sarah Stone gave a first-rate delivery and interpretation of ‘100 Easy Ways To Lose A Man’ from a Wonderful Town and I loved the interpretive and wonderful singing by Stacey Hyndman of ‘Expectations Of A Man’ by Bridie Carroll. Another song from The Waitress, ‘ She Used To Be Mine’, has such powerful lyrics which were so expressively and movingly sung by Lucy Hassall - I must admit it brought tears to my eyes - it was just exquisite. How charming, sweet and tender was the portrayal and delivery of ‘I Remember It Well’ from Gigi by Ian and Linda Jennison it was so touching! Sharon Stringer and girls delivered a sexy and saucy number from Jekyll and Hyde, ‘Bring On The Men’ followed by the men who gently and harmoniously sang ‘Portrait Of My Love’ arranged by Alan Simmons. Delightful singing and dancing came from Rebekah Dean, Remi Hines and Sarah Jackson in ‘Little Shop Of Horrors’ from the show of the same name and the very rousing song ‘Bring Me To Life’ was superbly sung by Jen Lewis, Elizabeth Brookes and Sarah Stone. The men gave a really terrific performance in both singing and dancing of ‘Turn It Off’ from The Book Of Mormon and not to be outdone, Jen Lewis (who can’t half belt out a song) along with the girls brilliantly sang and danced ‘It’s Raining Men’.

I haven’t yet mentioned, what for me was a definite highlight of the whole show, the cast of Belper Junior Musical Theatre. Each and everyone one of them was truly fantastic and the soloists in some of the items were outstanding. They were all so focused, so enthusiastic and so accomplished in everything that they delivered it was a joy to see them perform. Their first item was ‘All of Me’ by John Legend, it was just perfect and ‘The Thriller Medley’ was stunningly sung and danced. In the second act their delivery of a ‘Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang Medley’ was just exceptional as was ‘Million Dreams’ from The Greatest Showman. Every accolade must go to Jess Hutton, their Musical Director. To get children so young to sing in harmony is no mean feat and then to introduce movement and dancing into the equation well, I can’t praise the youngsters enough - what truly magnificent performances they all gave. The concert splendidly ended with Jess Hutton magnificently fronting ‘This Is Me’, from The Greatest Showman accompanied by all of the wonderful cast.

Lighting, sound and back projections certainly added that extra something to the concert and everything moved effortlessly from one item to the next. This was, without doubt, a ‘Great SSinghow’ and they could all most definitely ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’! Congratulations to everyone involved, but a special mention must go to Dave Adey for his superb accompaniments on the keyboard.

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