White Christmas

If ever there was a “feel good” show to brighten up the early-dark, damp November nights, then surely White Christmas fits the bill.  Here at KAOS, the show positively overflowed with colour and vitality. The colour was eminently portrayed by an excellent wardrobe and extremely well planned sets – which never interrupted the flow of the musical. Vitality is something always present in a KAOS show, and this year was no exception. Given that the show is well-written with audience-pleasing, memorable songs at the beginning and end of each act, and with the spaces in between crammed full of well-known and loved numbers – a fantastic start is given to any company looking to put this show on.

It is a requisite of “White Christmas”, however, that two talented and capable duos undertake the lead parts in the show, and with Bob (Clark Graham), Betty (Jane Donnelly), Phil (Charlie Sinclair) and Judy (Kay Dickson) we have no fear in that department! One or more of this quartet appear in almost every number in the show and their obvious experience and confidence in their characterisations is a very settling factor, from the very opening number.

Minor principal roles are no less exciting. Sheldrake (Iain Rowbotham), Martha (Monica Holland) and Ezekiel Foster (Harry Kerr) all add their own particular brand of humour – be it the monosyllabic Ezekial (very nearly upstaging everyone else on each of his entrances!) to Martha’s outrageous “Let Me Sing and I’m Happy” in Act One.  The “Blondes”, Rita (Lucy Sheerins) and Rhoda (Wendy Tulloch) both made their presence known in an array of “interesting” costumes.  Young Susan, (played on the night I attended by Sasha McIntyre), again, took on the role with confidence and clear diction – drawing a well-deserved round of applause for her reprise of “Let Me sing and I’m Happy”.

The Chorus, albeit with fewer men in their ranks than normal, sang and danced their way through the show with no less enthusiasm and conviction! Overall, the show was directed extremely well both in production and music – congratulations to Carol Sinclair and Tom Wright. – A small point, but having good snow falling when the barn doors are opened is well worth the added expense!

Listening, as is my wont, to audience reaction on the way out, comments ranged from “20 out of 10!” to “That was fabulous – we’ll not forget that in a hurry, will we?!”.  All said whilst shaking off the snow that fell over the auditorium during the Finale!

Many congratulations to Kirkcaldy AOS on yet another first class show!

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