With several exceptional performances and no weak links, this production brought a huge amount of enjoyment to audiences on Saturday.
Songs of that era were short with records running to around two minutes, so we were treated to 46 numbers in two hours, sung by 22 singers in various combos.
Many of the performers had the opportunity for solos and there were some stellar performances.
Sharron Pearcy never fails to give a professional performance and Love is a Many Splendored Thing, The Look of Love, I Only Want to be With You and Crazy gave her the chance to prove why she is so popular locally.
Surely destined for a professional career is Hermione Mason. Local theatregoers have seen her progress from child ingénue to the polished singer and dancer she is today. Secret Love, It’s My Party, and Wake Up Little Susie – the latter sung with Duncan Sayers- were stunning.
Lee Neal’s accomplishment as an actor gave him the chance to provide that extra edge to The Wanderer and Fly Me to the Moon.
Mikaela Buckby put plenty of emotion into her rendition of To Know Him is to Love Him but I suspect there is a more powerful voice just bubbling under the surface.
This fun show was just the tonic for a wet day in November.
Staged by Suzi De Villiers, with musical director Lee Redwood on keyboard, Richard Pearce on bass and David Waller on percussion, and with the added input of Roy Joseph as artistic director, this was one of this group’s most polished shows. Such a shame there were just two performances as it was worthy of more.
Marilyn Barber
