Something Wonderful

This show to celebrate the society’s 50th anniversary certainly lived up to it’s title and a programme filled with more than 50 musical memories from past productions really was a joy to witness.  The concert was split into sections which grouped styles, eras and locations and it is fair to say that most of the audience, myself included, knew most of the numbers even if we hadn’t performed them at some time.

Opening with a selection of songs from some of WAMTC’s more recent shows, including Return To The Forbidden Planet, Peter Pan and Seussical The Musical, we quickly moved in to an Opera section and how super it was to hear songs such as Vilia (lovely) and Maxims from The Merry Widow, and a funny Can Can from Orpheus In The Underworld.  Modern Major General was also included.

A section of musicals set in London (with Brigadoon put in for good measure) included Oliver, My Fair Lady and Me & My Girl.  A reprise of numbers from the society’s most recent production, Sister Act, went down extremely well and we stayed in the States for Ol’ Man River from Showboat (very good), Anything Goes, Calamity Jane and The Music Man amongst others.

A look back with their Youth group gave us a selection from Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which was the penultimate section before a glorious finale of Rodgers and Hammerstein numbers from Oklahoma, The King and I (Something Wonderful), The Sound Of Music, South Pacific and Carousel.  The arrangement of If I Loved You was absolutely beautiful and was extremely well sung.

Concerts can become monotonous but not this one and therefore another thing that I liked was the fact that songs were not performed in full, rather they were shorter versions which helped with the pace of the show.  There was a very good spread of experience amongst the performers and this really helps in shows such as this, and the youngsters certainly stood their ground!

The use of rostra and effective lighting were also just right for this concert.  Costumes were fine and choreography was of a level that most could achieve!

Whilst the cast rightly receive praise for their hard work, Director Rosalie Abel and Musical Director Sue Rowland (with Sam Wormald for Sister Act) deserve real credit for putting on a show of such variety.

If I had a favourite section it would probably be the Opera grouping but R&H were a close second!  I’d defy anyone who likes musicals not to have been impressed with this production - it was Something Wonderful!

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