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Summer Show: Spies, Lies and Wild West Skies

Author: Marie Coltman

Information

Date
26th July 2023
Society
Ringwood Musical & Dramatic Society
Venue
Greyfriars Community Centre, Ringwood
Type of Production
Concert
Director
Various
Choreographer
Various

RMDS Summer Shows at the Greyfriars Community Centre in Ringwood are always well supported and are a great evening's entertainment.

There are three performance areas, each has its own audience seating, set, lighting, musical director and crew. There is a meeting and bar area in the middle. Each ticket holder is allocated a coloured wristband and becomes a member of the Red, Yellow or Blue audience and is assigned a team-leader from RMDS to guide each audience group around the various performances.

The RMDS performers are split into three shows each lasting around 40 minute or so, and the audiences rotate around until they have seen each show. You can have drinks and nibbles between the shows.

'Politics, Parties and Plunder' is a very good parliamentary satire. Choreography by Charlie Squires, Director by Suzy Collins and music by Jono Spratt. The set was the House of Commons, complete with green benches and I liked the drinks cabinet behind the Speaker’s chair. The music and song choices are just right with words being changed to fit with the story. I liked the “Speaker of the House” number adapted from Les Misérables, and 'You're so Vain' by Carly Simon about the PM. Another fun song was "You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two' from Oliver sung by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

“Once Upon a Time in the West” is about a wagon train on the Oregon Trail. Director and choreographer by Dave and Cindy Wischhusen, Musical Director Alistair Hume. The set is very good with three wagons around the sides of the stage the centre one has moving wheels. This show has a bit of a story running through it, the dancing numbers are great, comedy and a gunfight included. Great musical numbers including 'The Deadwood Stage' from Calamity Jane, 'There's a Coach Coming In' from Paint Your Wagon etc, I really enjoyed this selection.

Our last show was “Casino Banale” and is a Bond spoof. Director and writer is Andrew Chappell with Director and choreographer Angie Chappell. Musical Director Matt Timmins. The set is a Casino and bar, with some lovely paintings by Lianne Anderson. The show starts with the classic Bond theme to which the performers sing a lyric “Secret Agent Man”. There is a story of Bond played by Tom Buxton and he has to stop Dr Maybe played by Jemma Wright. There are a good selection of songs "Suddenly Seymour" Little Shop of Horrors, and "The Winner Takes It All" by ABBA. I also liked “You and Me (But Mostly Me)” from the Book of Mormon. But as always, Bond wins the day.

A great evening, well done to you all. 

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