Time After Time

A very brave choice to perform a new show written by long standing member Bex Nicholls, but with the support this group has gathered over the years it was well received to good audiences over all the performances.

A classic tale really of love meeting up, moving on, then coming back many years later to pick up again with the two main leads in the show, Oliver and Angela.

I felt that whilst the story line was good and had a positive start and end the songs were not evenly balanced against the dialogue. At least 3-4 songs in each Act could have been cut.

Indeed, all the songs were well performed, but one or two did not fit too well within the story and made for two long Acts.

However, there were some really popular numbers well sung and performed. In Act 1 I liked the middle section of My Life/Oliver’s Army, & the popular Time Warp with Gary Burton, Glynn Hill, Lauren Broom & Maddy Mayo taking lead vocals joined by a very large company of adults and juniors.

James Finbow as Oliver in the lead role did very well and sung with feeling and “Angie” was a good number in this Act. Charlea Burwood as Angela the other half of the love interest sung well and paired up with James made a good couple.

After the interval in Act 2 the company started with Footloose with lots of energy, and a great duet with Lauren & Maddy followed” Time after Time” so well sung. Both these ladies gave so much energy and purpose to their roles it was a pleasure to watch.

“Star Trekkin” with the junior cast was fun if not a bit fast in tempo, and all the young cast did so well in all their numbers. There were some pretty complicated choregraphed numbers which could have been tighter in movement but all in all the entire cast worked well together.

As always with this company the costumes were terrific with so much thought in producing so many changes for the entire cast. First class in style and brilliant colours to give this show a bright glossy look.     

All the chorus numbers were good. As with so many companies now the ladies rather outnumbered the men but the overall sound was good and very pleasing.

The stage was in two parts with the main stage (front area) used for solo work with the chorus joining from upstage in a sort of collecting area coming down to do the ensemble numbers. It worked very well.

The band were on good form with some super guitar work from Dave King, but the balance against the voices was far too loud! This seems to be the norm with so many societies now which is such a shame as the soloists cannot be heard. It is totally different when singing in practise to an empty hall, the real test is when the audiences are in, and it’s a good idea for someone to listen to the balance and be really critical of the sound levels.

The company had obviously worked so hard on this show and all are to be congratulated on the overall standard which was so good. To comment on all the musical numbers in the show would not be possible with 19 in the first act and 18 in the second. This was a big ask for a company to learn.

Well done to Bex for all her efforts in writing the story and one which a lot has been learned for possibly another script in due course?

Well done also to Maria as Musical Director and the Choreographers and all the company. With so many young people perhaps a Youth show might be considered some time?

Now onwards to auditions for the Pantomime-a lot more planning to get started on. It was good to be with you again and we had a good evening.

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