Spotlight on Showstoppers

Spotlight on Showstoppers ... a concert staged by Rainhill Musical Theatre Company at Rainhill Village Hall, Dane Court, Rainhill on Friday 17th January 2025

Rainhill MTC advertised this concert as a ‘fundraiser’ ...  those funds going toward the purchase of additional ‘LIGHTING’ here at Rainhill Village Hall... but it turned out to be far more than just that and if the applause, laughter throughout and at the finale were anything to go b,  it was a concert thoroughly enjoyed by everyone present. We were advised before the concert started that there would be opportunities for us, the audience, to ‘sing-along’ with some of the songs, the lyrics of which would be projected onto a screen situated at the front of the village hall, but I think many forgot about the projected lyrics, especially some ‘would be ‘pop singers’ sat around me .... and if I’m honest me to as well ... I think we all song through the majority of these classics even if we didn’t get all the words right... we all love a good sing-a-long don’t we ahahahahah!

Production Team ... having spoken to many at Rainhill that evening, this was very much a group collaboration between all ten members of the cast, the ever present and vastly experienced Wayne Oakes, who oversaw all things musical and Claire Jones, Megan Charlton and Michelle Williams who formed part of the cast but who also worked their magic with some simple yet effective choreography. Ideas were suggested, discussed, tossed around with the best taken forward and performed. This fundraiser showcased everything that Rainhill Musical Theatre Company are about. They’re a family, they come together to create and perform, to entertain and put smiles on the faces of the people who come along to support them ... they do it for their ‘enjoyment’, for ‘comradery’, for ‘inclusiveness’ and most of all for ‘fun’ ... they did exactly what it said on the tin ... from opening note till last.... all this done with enthusiasm, energy and with huge smiles etched across all of their faces ... ensuring, as they say in Yorkshire ... that everyone present, including themselves on stage had a ‘reyt good time!  Well done RMTC... hope you made loads of money for those ‘LIGHTS’!     

The Cast ... we had a cast of just ten who worked their socks off throughout ... they included... Pip Bradshaw, Megan Charlton, Suzi Davies, Ruth Gibb, Ryan Greenall, Claire Heaton, Claire Jones, Barbara Marsh, Charlotte Orme, Michelle Williams. The cast provided us with a varied programme ... from ‘pop songs’ to ‘songs from Musicals’... with medleys from Queen and Abba, songs from Cher and a fabulous section of ‘Disco Classics’ that we all sang along to ...  all accompanied with some simple yet effective choreo and movement ... loved by everyone present!

As you know, I’m never one to sit on a fence, so if I may, without wanting to do injustice to anyone... I’d like to suggest my ‘Trio of Three’ ...  MY three favourite performances from the evening...

i) Loved, loved, loved Ryan Greenall’s rendition of ‘High Hopes’.  There was so much sentiment so much emotion attached to this song... the entire village hall felt it and showed their appreciation at the end... be very proud Ryan... this was a great emotive rendition of this classic!  

ii) Not so much a song but a performance of note ... another that got wonderful audience reaction and approval was Charlotte Orme’s performance of ‘Doll on a Music Box’ written by The Sherman Brothers for the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and subsequently performed in stage musical of the same name. Charlotte’s rendition and movement throughout was amazing... she actually got two massive rounds of cheers and applause, because the audience thought she’d finished, when she hadn’t!  Be very proud Charlotte!

iii) Final favourite... was the ‘Take That Medley’ (love Take That ... ‘big fan’)!  The medley included renditions of ‘Greatest Day’ (wonderful arrangement and sung to perfection). ‘Back for Good’ and ‘Rule the World’ all three classics... an ensemble piece, which included some terrific vocals to some great songs... loved it!

Staging/Tech - simple staging was used throughout designed by Claire Jones and Megan Charlton, is there anything these two can’t or won’t do for RMTC. A projection screen was set up off stage which was used to display the song lyrics to those songs we were supposed to sing and those that weren’t displayed and we weren’t supposed to sing! We just made the lyrics up as we went along. Rainhill Village Hall isn’t the easiest place on the planet to get the Sound as you would want it but, Kelsey Fulton did a great job ensuring that everyone was heard. Lighting... under the watchful eye of Karen Wood who was doing this for her first time and what a good job she did, let's hope the concert raised enough money to provide some additional lighting to help Karen and others.  

Costumes/Props were just right for this concert, nothing elaborate but functionable and easy to use as were the Props.

Whenever you’re organising anything like this ... you really do need a host of people on hand to help you out... providing that help were volunteers Karen Woods, Ethan Fitzgeorge, Maria Heaton, Chris Gibb and Andy Pink... well done all of you.
Let’s hope the fundraising went as well as the concert, which was received really well. Rainhill MTC really do know how to stage a concert as I’ve said many times before. 

Thank you so much for inviting Susan and I, we thoroughly enjoyed the evening... also thanks once again to the ever-present Keith Marsh (Front of House Manager) for looking after us
throughout the evening... Keith really is a true gent!  Already looking forward to ‘Bad Girls’.

Stay safe, keep well…
‘Stronger Together’

Jim Briscoe
NODA NW
District 6 Rep

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