Songs from the Seventies

It must be very difficult to choose a selection to represent a decade and to balance the programme to cover company and principal participation, certainly we were overwhelmed by the number of songs (nearly 40) chosen giving such a mix of styles and moods (perhaps could have had fewer verses for some songs as church pews are hard?).

The large group of performers in the Parish Players really enjoyed themselves particularly in some of the upbeat company numbers, and this is what amateur theatre is all about, enjoyment by participants and audience, and we all had a very good evening. And the principal turns to divide up the company numbers gave the changes in style and mood and tone.

Each audience member will have their own particular hit list but must commend: the company in ‘Annie’s Song’, piano talents and change mood for ‘Latin Dolly’ by John Brundell, the haunting ‘Imagine’ from Toni Morina. What wonderful talent coming up from the youngsters with Bethany Gathergood belting out ‘Isn’t She Lovely’, and the piano playing and singing from young Joe Earl as he joined with Sally-Anne Davies in ‘Your Song’. And what a star with smooth folk voice, Lynne Boston was superb in her rendition of ‘Take me home country roads’, before the energetic finale of first half with company and audience joining in ‘YMCA’. Continuing with all joining in ‘Save your kisses for me’ and ‘When I need you’, on to the solo and voice of Sally-Anne Davies and ‘Streets of London’, very potent and a complete contrast to Duncan Moore and his ‘Sweet Caroline’. Probably the song to take home in the excellence of balance and harmony and haunting melody: Stephanie Grand, Lynne Boston, Lesley Clarke, Sally-Anne Davies, Toni Morina, and Julie Hagan-Palmer worked their magic on ‘Bridge over troubled waters’, possibly one of the best remembered and most performed numbers from the 70s, it was perfect. And then these girls had a change of mood as Toni led them through the harmonies of ‘Flash Dance’, before the party time for the company and audience and the tempo and volume increased through ‘Waterloo’, Amarillo’ and ‘Rocking all over the world’ into a crescendo of fun.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.