West End Showstoppers

What energy and talent we always enjoy from DOSYTCo (Dereham Youth) and this compilation was no exception: a clever combination of ‘special spots’ and full company numbers displayed all the best in the group, and certainly Kirk, Helen and Jodie encouraged these youngsters to rise to new heights. With the multi-coloured Tee-shirts, and black trousers against a cyc cloth and with imaginative lighting, this gave a vibrant backing to the songs, dancing and voices throughout the production.
 The Mary Poppins number ‘Step in time’ gave an opening (and what an opening!) of great strength and promise of the delights to come as the company burst on to the stage in an explosion of sound and movement: really one of the highlights of the programme. As was the finale from Hairspray ‘You can’t stop the beat’ in a trailer for their next main production, the excitement and energy was overwhelming.
 And between these two markers, a programme of contrasts in style, a mixture of ages and differing talents and abilities but giving all 34 participants the chance to shine and show what they can do. It is impossible to name all the many talented performances (and one should not really be selective), and, of course, each audience member will have their own favourites, and this will not lessen the strengths and talents of the rest of the cast, so at penalty of upsetting some, my personal enjoyments that evening:
 Blood Brothers ‘Tell me it’s not true’ emotionally led by Adelle and Chloe with the company; The Annie selection with solos from Maisie and Sophie, and all the younger group chorus in full enthusiasm and energy; Wicked ‘For good’ from Natasha and Rachel was very special; the Chess selection featuring Brodie and Daisy, Adelle, and the full company (always a favourite show with me); Chorus Line starring Rachel in ‘What I did for love’ and in ‘One’ with stunning support from full company, particularly all the senior girls. Loved the feelings and quiet competent blending of voices and guitar in One ‘Falling slowly’ from Avalon and Sam; and what a contrast to the noise and energy to the Matilda selection featuring the younger girls. What maturity and strength of singing in a teenager, the performance of ‘As long as he needs me’ was quite something from Olivia; and followed by Ollie ‘Reviewing the situation’. Many congratulations to MD and performers for the outstanding unaccompanied ‘You’ll never walk alone’ from the company. And on to Ghost with an amazing number ’With you’ from Chloe, and then the quartet ‘Unchained Melody’ from the boys Alfie, Elliot, Joseph and Sam, which stopped the show for me. Or that is until the emotional and so difficult ‘Gethsemane’ sung so powerfully by Elliot, what talent. And then into the finale.
 And as you say goodbye to Rachel (off to stage school), Brodie and Matthew from DOSYTCo, we wish them well and we shall look forward to seeing the talents of the company in their production in 2015.
 

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