West End Magic

West End Magic a Revue/Concert performed by BOS Musical Theatre Company at Southport Little Theatre, Hoghton Street, Southport on Friday, 7th October 2022.

When ‘times are tight’, ‘decisions’, ‘big decisions’ have to be made… so when BOS went public and announced that their Autumn musical – ‘West Side Story’ was being deferred… you just knew that something was amiss!  But, within days of that announcement, a second announcements came hot off the press…  “BOS Musical Theatre Company are to stage a concert style revue of songs from West End hit musicals from Saturday 1st October to Saturday 8th October 2022 at the Little Theatre, Hoghton Street, Southport… open auditions on Sunday 12th June at the Temperance Institute, London Street, Southport. 

You can never keep a good society down!  So, it began… three months of ‘hard graft’ littered with interruptions due to holidays, work commitments, sickness and that never to be mentioned ‘five letter’ word… begins with ‘C’ and ends with a ‘D’ which is still lurking around causing issues and missed rehearsal and even took cast members out of the show run… but did it stop/prevent them staging this musical revue…. NO… the results of which I had the privilege to see on Friday 7th October…

The theatre wasn’t full, but the atmosphere created pre performance by the societies loyal supporters was tangible!  The support and applause continued throughout and as I listened to the audience as they left, you could just tell that no one was leaving feeling anything but elated!

The Production Team…I’m never really sure people actually understand how difficult it is to stage a concert /revue!  They are without doubt one of the hardest productions to stage because of the endless material on offer!  So, to have experienced people at the helm is important!  That responsibility lay in the safe hands of Liz Clarke and Nick Lloyd (Artistic Directors), David Wall (Musical Director), Kim Helm and Wendy Harris (Choreographers).  Did they get it right … I would say they did!   We had songs from favourites like ‘Les Mis’, ‘Phantom’, ‘Miss Saigon’ and ‘9 to 5’ … but there were songs from lesser known, lesser sung musicals like ‘Ghost’, ‘Shrek’, ‘Billy Elliott’, ‘The Full Monty’, ‘Bonny and Clyde’ and ‘Dear Evan Hansen’… all sung wonderfully well by an array of singers…some established leading ladies and men some just making their way in musical theatre… ‘as it should be’ … well done guy’s great job!

The Cast: (Men)… Craig Billington, Alan Casserley, Harry Corcoran, Chris Gerring, Dominic Johnson,
Ian Lawson, Nick Lloyd, Carl Sedman and Ben Wake.  (Ladies)… Laura Abrams, June Beswick, Bex Billington, Lucy Brown, Karen Browne, Liz Davies, Sue Hardiker, Wendy Harris, Kim Helm, Angela Higton, Anita Hutson, Samantha Keen, Cate Leight, Heather Lewis and Sophie McGuiness.   (Boys)… Finlay Casserley, Joseph Mullen, Nathan Power, Freddie Thomason.  (Girls) … Katie Allen, Lilly Allen, Emilie Alty, Zahra Bhatti, Emily Bloom, Eliza Briscoe, Isabelle Culshaw, Charlotte Gerring, Jasmine Mullen, Scarlette Mullen and Evie Twist.  Missing due to illness… Lucie Coleman and Chloe Davies… can I take this opportunity to wish them both a speedy recovery!

The Programme … in two acts… Act 1: ‘Ghost’ … ‘Here Right Now’ sung by Kim Helm, Ian Lawson and chorus and ‘With You’… sung by Kim Helm and Sam Keen.  ‘Matilda’ ... ‘Revolting Children’ sung by Isabelle Culshaw, Katie Allen & Children’s Chorus.  ‘Phantom of the Opera’: ‘Think of Me’ sung by Laura Abrams.   ‘Pirate Queen’… ‘Here on this Night’ sung by Craig Billington and Evie Twist (who replaced Lucie Coleman) and ‘I’ll be There’ sung by Ben Wake.  ‘Joseph’… ‘Any Dream Will Do’ sung by Nathan Power, Lilly Allen and Children’s Chorus.   ‘Mack and Mabel’… ‘I Won’t Send Roses’ sung by Alan Casserley and ‘Time Heals Everything sung by Emily Bloom and Sophie McGuiness. We also had
a ‘TAP MEDLEY’ from ‘Mack and Mabel’ choreographed by Mary Forbes and Wendy Harris.  ‘9 to 5’ the Musical …’9 to 5’ the song sung by The Cast.  ‘RENT’… ‘Seasons of Love’ sung by Evie Twist, Chris Gerring and Company.  Miss Saigon… ‘Bui Doi’ sung by Harry Corcoran and Company.  ‘I Still Believe’/ ‘I’d Give my Life for You’ sung by Sam Keen, Cate Leight and Kim Helm.  ‘Witches of Eastwick’.  ‘Dance with the Devil’ sung by Carl Sedman and Men’s Chorus. ‘SHREK’… ‘Who I’d Be’ sung by Ian Lawson and Kim Helm.  ‘Hairspray’ … ‘Good Morning Baltimore’ sung by Lucy Brown, Charlotte Gerring and Company and ‘Welcome to the 60’s sung by Lily Allen, Dominic Johnson and Company.   
Act 2: ‘Sister Act’ ‘Bless this Show’ and ‘Raise your Voice’ sung by Heather Lewis and Female Chorus (‘Raise the Roof’ Heather replaced Chloe Davies).  ‘Billy Elliott’ … ‘Electricity’ sung by Freddie Thomason.  ‘CHICAGO’ … ‘Cell Block Tango’ sung by Lucy Brown, Kim Helm, Anita Hutson, Sam Keen, Evie Twist and Heather Lewis (who replaced Lucie Coleman).  ‘BONNY AND CLYDE’…  ‘You Love Who You Love’ sung by Sam Keen and Liz Clarke (replaced Lucie Coleman).  ‘CHORUS LINE’… ‘One’ sung/danced by the Company. ‘ELEGIES’… ‘My Brother Lived in San Francisco’ sung by Heather Lewis.  ‘FULL MONTY’… ‘You Walk With Me’ sung and performed by Nick Lloyd and Ben Wake.   ‘WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND’ … ‘Whistle Down the Wind’ and ‘When Children Rule the World’ sung by Lilly Allen, Nathan Power and Children’s Chorus.  ‘Les Misérables’ … ‘Stars’ / ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ sung by Nick Lloyd and Laura Abrams and ‘One more Day’ sung by Craig Billington, Lucy Brown, Anita Hutson, Ian Lawson, Nick Lloyd, Carl Sedman, Ben Wake and Company.  ‘Dear Evan Hansen’… ‘You Will Be Found’
and Finale sung by Company.

Never one to shirk responsibility… can I suggest my ‘super seven’ favourite performances… as always these are MY favourites… ask anyone else there, they may well come up with a different set, but these are mine…
i) Loved the ‘Tap Medley’ from ‘Mack and Mabel’!  Great routine, danced really well… choreographed by Mary Forbes and Wendy Harris (who was also “strutting” her stuff) … well done ladies, well done everyone!     
ii) ‘Dance with the Devil’ from ‘Witches of Eastwick’ brought the house down! Sung well by Carl Sedman and the ‘gents chorus’… but it was those ‘gyrating gents’ that caused the stir…impressive guys well done!
iii) Freddie Thomason aged 10, knocked the song ‘Electricity’ from Billy Elliott out the park!  It’s wonderful to see young people performing alongside adults and not being phased or overawed… be ever so proud!
iv) ‘Stars’ from Les Mis was sung really well by Nick Lloyd… great song, great vocals well done Nick.
v) ‘Who I’d Be’ from Shrek two great voices that blended together ever so well…Kim Helm and Ian Lawson be ever so proud you two great job!
vi) ‘Time Heals Everything’ from Mack and Mabel was sung to ever so well by Emily Bloom and Sophie McGuiness. Their voices blended so well together, sounded great … wonderful job girls, be proud!
vii) Probably my overall favourite… ‘Cell Block Tango’ from Chicago!  Sung to perfection by Lucy Brown, Heather Lewis (standing in for Lucy Coleman), Kim Helm, Anita Hutson, Sam Keen and Evie Twist. Great vocals… loved the routine… congrats to Kim Helm for the choreography… wonderful job ladies!              

The Band… a four-piece band accompanied the singers and accompanied them superbly well. Wonderful sound that totally enhanced the evening… congrats to David Wall (Musical Director) and his musicians.

Sound… was, as always, here at Little Theatre excellent!   Lighting… totally impressed with the lighting design for the opening, absolutely superb, what a way to open the concert!  But, along with many others, I found the ‘high intensity lights’ that shone from the stage into and across the audience on a regular basis, very difficult to cope with!  Lighting is an essential element that can and does enhance shows, but were doubt enhances shows, but were those lights really necessary… I’m not sure!  Never like ‘negatives’ in my reviews but this is something to consider for future productions!

Thank you so much for inviting me and my wife; for your warm welcome. Great atmosphere, great night, cannot wait to see you all again soon!

Stay safe, keep well…
‘STRONGER TOGETHER’

Jim Briscoe
NODA NW
District 6 Rep

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