Strictly Movie Musicals

Centenary Theatre Company were back at The Brindley for their third instalment of the Strictly Musicals franchise. This time round, the audience were treated to songs from the movies. Dan Grimes directed this concert. The pace of the concert was great. The audience were never left waiting and were treated to song after song. Dan had broken the concert up into different themed sections, which were introduced by a compilation of clips from the movies that would be included in the section. A great idea, which allowed the concert to flow. There was a great mix of songs too, with classic songs from MGM to much more recent songs – something for everyone! Dan had assembled a cast of 25 adults and it was great to see performers of all ages coming together for this production – truly what amateur theatre is all about. What impressed was how each performer had their moment in the spotlight. It truly was an ensemble show.

The orchestra were outstanding under the watchful eye of Simon Pickup, who also arranged the music with Scott Stait and Nathan Jarvis. It was great seeing them on the stage and watching them play. The way that they were able to go from the big ensemble numbers, to a much quieter number is a true testament to both Simon and the orchestra.

Lisa-Ann Jones, Danielle Segar, Kirstin Dunn, Eleanor Ross and Rebecca Mainwaring all contributed to the choreography of the concert. The choreography covered a wide range of styles and catered to all abilities. It was executed well by the company. ‘Colour My World’ was a colourful routine, and ‘Step in Time’ was very energetic. Well done to all choreographers for you work.

The technical elements of the production were fantastic. The videos before each section were great, with the audience anticipating what numbers they would see. The lighting was seamless and cannot be faulted. The sound was great as well. The balance between orchestra and cast was perfect – everything could be heard.

The set was simple, with some raised staging. It was utilised well, allowing different entrances and exits, as well as different levels for the cast.

Costumes were appropriate for each number.

Act One opened with the section titled ‘MGM Musicals’, with songs from classic MGM films. ‘Another Op’ nin’, Another Show’ was a great choice to open with. It showed the audience what to expect, with some great ensemble singing and choreography. The duets in this section all stood out. ‘Well, Did You Evah!’ was performed well, ‘Anything You Can Do’ was very funny, and ‘I Remember It Well’ was wonderful to watch.

The next section, ‘From Screen to Stage’, included numbers from musicals based on movies. ‘Colour My World’ was a great ensemble number, which was full of colour and energy.

Act Two started with ‘Leap Off the Page!’, which showcased songs from movies based on books. ‘Feed the Birds/Step in Time’ was a fantastic Act Two opener. There were numerous highlights from this section, but ‘My House’ from the recent Matilda movie was beautifully performed, and was a particular standout.

The final section of the concert was titled ‘And the Winner is?’ This section had songs from award winning movies. The standout performance from this section was ‘Let It Go’ – beautifully staged and a powerhouse of a performer!

The audience were treated to an encore of a ‘Mamma Mia!’ medley and ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’. These numbers were performed well by the entire cast, allowing the audience to leave on a high.

Overall, this was an outstanding production, with excellent performances, technical wizardry and a phenomenal orchestra.

Thank you to Centenary Theatre Company for their warm welcome and kind hospitality. All the best for your next production.

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