Truly Scrumptious

The room was set cabaret style for this concert show celebrating songs from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Starlight Express, Sister Act, Boogie Nights and individual songs from other shows.

The seven piece Orchestra did a fabulous job on a varied choice of numbers and were expertly led by John G Barry who also due to a cast member leaving stepped in to sing (and dance!) on a few of the numbers.

There was no set as such and minimum props for most numbers. The ones that were used were very effective. The block colours worked well on the costumes and I liked the continuity of keeping people on stage from the previous number. This society has a mixed dancer ability and age of cast members so the choreography was kept simple which helped the effect.

There were some issues on sound with microphones not working on certain numbers, hissing on the speaker to stage right and some balance issues between band and vocalists. The lighting plot worked well.

The first Act consisted in the main of songs from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (the opening number which was a great  start to the show) and Starlight  Express. I loved Me Old Bamboo led by Sean Baker and Rolling Stock on wheelchairs and Zimmer frames. One Rock and Roll Too Many led by Philip Brady and Paul McConnochie was very funny and Light at the End of the Tunnel was a real revelation with John G Barry the MD up on stage, leading the song with fab vocals and some nice little dance  moves too! My favourite number of Act 1 was from A Chorus Line with What I did for Love sung absolutely beautifully by Deborah O’Connor.

The second Act was very entertaining and the opening numbers by the Ladies from Sister Act singing Hail Holy Queen, My God and I Will Follow Him were stunning with beautiful harmonies.

Cell Block Tango from Chicago looked great but was let down by sound issues and a few accent problems which was a shame. Pheobe Eade did a lovely job on As Long as He Needs Me.

                                                                                

The Boogie Nights numbers looked and sounded great and were all upbeat so got the audience on their feet. Again John G Barry led a couple of the numbers ending with Celebration which was a cracking way to finish the whole show. Well done to everybody involved both onstage and off in what was a very entertaining evening.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.