The World Goes Round

This show is as eclectic collection of love songs, torch songs and acerbically witty comic numbers taken from the shows of Kander & Ebb both well known – Cabaret, Chicago, The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman and New York, New York – and the lesser known – 70 Girls 70, The Happy Time, The Act, Woman of the Year, Funny Lady, Zorba, Liza with a “Z” and Flora, The Red Menace. From the opening title number “The World Goes Round” from New York, New York, beautifully delivered by Ali Niven, we knew we were in for a treat. The full company gave us excellent renditions of numbers such as “Coffee in a Cardboard Cup” (70 Girls 70), a humorous “Me and My Baby” (Chicago), “Ring Them Bells” (Liza with a “Z”), “The Rink” (The Rink) – complete with roller skating routine and “Pain” a hilarious look at dancers and their relationship with choreographers! The benefit of a show such as this is that it gives the opportunity to many members to show their talents whether it be in solo, duet or ensemble numbers. Among the highlights of such numbers came in a selection from Chicago – a sexy “All That Jazz” featuring Tasmin  Glass, a laughter inducing “Class” from Lesley Aitken and Aileen Fairweather and Graeme Baird’s pathos filled “Mr Cellophane”. Also to be mentioned is a homage to the sweet- toothed “Sara Lee” (from The Act) performed by Ross Robertson and a bevy of dancing waitresses. The score is full of unusual arrangements which tested the skills of both the singers and the orchestra to the full such as the counterpuntal arrangement of “I Don’t Remember You” and “Sometimes a Day Goes By” sung by Millar Young and Kerry Guthrie respectively and a syncopated “Cabaret” by the whole company. The outstanding moment of the evening for me was when, after heartfelt solo renditions of “We Can Make It” from Graeme Baird, “Maybe This Time” from Ali Niven and “Isn’t This Better” from Laura Ferguson, the three singers came together in a magnificently powerful fusion of the three numbers. The show closed with a resounding “New York, New York” from the whole company. Staging was simple but effective, using projections on to a large moon to change the mood, allowing plenty of space for the well-choreographed movement especially in the full company numbers. Congratulation to all concerned for a delightful evening’s entertainment.

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