Strictly Musicals

STRICTLY MUSICALS

Presented by

Newcastle Operatic Society

A fabulous collection of both old traditional and new show songs. This highly experienced cast did a great job bringing these well-known show hits to the Rep stage. Directed by Shelley Rivers.

Opening in a cabaret style setting, we hear songs from the vast back catalogue of Rodgers and Hammerstein, merging nicely into songs from West Side Story and Chicago were both superbly presented. I Won’t Send Roses stood out.

Cell Block Tango gave the ladies and dancers a chance to shine, cool, slinky choreography here, good costumes throughout.

Newcastle Operatic Society have always been renowned for their voices, this concert confirmed that they have lost none of that reputation. A perfect example being the exquisite solo from Lottie Dyer Someone Like You.

The selection from Les Miserable bringing the finale of Act I was an utterly stupendous end to a well-paced and well performed Act I. So much so it left the audience primed and wanting more of the same from the second act, however, this was such a pinnacle I don’t feel it was bettered in Act II. 

Act II started with a well selected and utterly familiar show songs numbers, good use of visual humour throughout the concert brought a deft lightness to the more upbeat numbers.

Musical Director Allison Fisher, certainly cool under pressure, so many harmonies and iconic melodies and close multi-part harmonies throughout the very impressive full cast numbers, to get these talented singers to perform so very well.

That said the very different discipline of rock music singing for the We Will Rock You selection, didn’t quite gel with the more schooled operatic styles of NOS vocalists, this was possibly down to this section really missing the drive behind it of the huge dynamic guitar sounds which propel much of the Queen musical.

Choreographer Beckie Williamson’s jazz styled dancing looked visually excellent. Sing, Sing, Sing; done as an instrumental number, rather than sung, it looked great but with so much vocal talent available, it was a shame the Louis Prima vocal version wasn’t adopted.

Sound overall was spot on, crisp clear, unfortunately we could repeatedly hear cast talking off stage, but with such a large cast with so many slick changes from one vocal scene to another it is never an easy task. Well-structured lighting, bathing the scenes to great visual effect.

A pleasing, easy on the senses, feel good concert, hitting some wonderful highs along the way. Strictly scintillating.

 

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