Companies presenting compilation shows can usually be relied on to pull out all the old tried and tested numbers to keep the audiences happy.
Lichfield Operatic Society this week decided to take a gamble and perform songs from current West End shows – several not so well known – thrown into the mix with familiar numbers.
And the gamble paid off.
West End Now! has something for everyone, from Les Miserables to Legally Blonde, Billy Elliot to Blood Brothers – and lots in between.
Copyright laws meant the company could not use costumes or sets depicting the actual shows, but the a simple setting coupled with some atmospheric lighting by Stephen Rainsford meant they didn’t need them.
An amazing opening number – Circle of Life from The Lion King – got the evening off to a brilliant start with the whole cast ‘feeling the love tonight’.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Blood Brothers sequence – some fine acting here as well as singing.
The first half was mix of ‘ancient and modern’ finishing with some superb renditions of numbers from the ever-popular Les Miserables.
Second half opening was a real show-stopper with four of the company’s finest – Dan Anketell, Patrick Jervis, Nick Lawrence and Mark Johnson as the Jersey Boys – great harmonies fellas!
The women dancers featured strongly in Chicago – again some great performances.
I don’t want to pick out too many individual performers because this was a huge team effort, but I must just mention young Gus Wade who stole everybody’s hearts in Billy Elliot.
Many of the company’s young and talented performers brought us some admirable duets from Love Never Dies, the sequel to Phantom of the Opera.
We Will Rock You closed the show with the whole cast in sparking silver and white giving their all in a fabulous finale of Queen hits.
West End Now! Was compiled by Brian Smith, with Martin Rainsford as production director, musical director David Easto and choreographer Jemma Tiso.
Compere Craig Allen kept everything running smoothly and even joined in one or two sequences.
Congratulations to everyone involved and, to use one of the songs from Jersey Boys, I have to say ‘What a Night!’
West End Now! Runs at the Lichfield Garrick until Saturday (November 5) call the box office on 01543 412121 for ticket information.
