Wonders of the West End

Sometimes it’s not good enough just to go see a good show, sometimes it’s more enjoyable to have an unforgettable experience. From the start to finish of the evening, the nostalgic feeling of the golden age of theatre was wrapped around you. Starting with the warm welcome that met the audience when they arrived, to the friendly front of house staff wishing you a safe trip home. This combined with the timeless selection of traditional musical songs with a pinch of modern made for an enjoyable evening.

The staging was set with different levels in a simple yet effective way with a great lighting systems that was very effective. This coupled with the odd inclusion of tables, chairs and benches worked nicely to give a very formal West End feel to the show. The set was moved quickly to not impede the speed of the show. However, some scene changes did seem a little longer than necessary, which I’m sure will have quickened up with the rest of the run.  The costumes were well chosen to match the feel and time periods of the songs performed. Everyone on stage looked exceedingly comfortable and happy to be there.

It was nice to see such a large cast on stage and the singing talent was plenty which must have made Luke Arnold, as Producers, job very hard. It was also nice to see the incorporation of Sarah Louise Ashworth Musical Theatre Group and the Junior ensemble. There was so much energy on stage in the song School Song from Matilda and the lovely musicality from the song Castle on a Cloud from Les Misérables. The wonderful performance of the Sword Dance from Brigadoon was very well executed by Isobel Davison and Eleanor Rowntree and brought something different to the show.

The singing through the whole show was lovely and harmonies handed well to add some depth to the performances with such chorus numbers as It’s a Fine life from Oliver, the title song from Brigadoon and If the Rains Got to Fall  from Half a sixpence, led by Marcus Burnside. This was accompanied by a good selection of small group numbers and duets added some interest. The lovely, cheeky trio of Betsy Hornby, Scarlett Harland and Francessca Wood with Little People from Les Misérables brought a smile to many faces. Alice Rose led a selection of the adult chorus in a powerful rendition of Take That Look Off Your Face from Tell me On a Sunday, also including the junior dancers which gave something nice to watch while listening to the beautiful singing. As well as Paula Paylor and Michael O’Brien who performed I Remember it Well from Gigi which brough a lovely soft tone.

There were many nice solos, and it must have been a hard job to select the right people from the many talented cast. Colin Wragg sang an excellent version of the title song from Gigi, giving the feel that he could have just stepped off the West End Stage. Rachel Anderson gave a great performance in I Put My Hand from Hello Dolly giving a nice peek into next year’s musical. The two stand out solos came from two of the younger members of cast. Niamh Lally gave an exceptionally heart felt performance of As Long As He Needs Me from Oliver, she completely enthralled the entire audience. The other performance was Quiet from Matilda sung by Imogen Wood. What a powerful voice for a young lady, so much light and dark through the performance I had goose bumps watching. I’m sure this Young lady will go far.

The whole performance was a very nice, easy listening show and with a relaxed feel throughout. Pickering Musical Society never fail on their musical talent and ability to put on a nice show. The opening night was sold out which I think reflects the reputation that they have developed. I only hope the rest of the shows were as well received.

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