Audiences in Lichfield had a glimpse of what could happen if all but one of the theatres in the West End were wiped out.
They witnessed how a director brought together young entertainers for a show aimed at making the capital’s theatre land come to life again.
The story, of course, was fictitious – the show was real.
James Pugh and David Easto devised and directed West End Story, performed by Lichfield Operatic Society. It featured songs from much-loved musicals alongside those perhaps not so well known.
The show opened with a bang with the whole company performing the effervescent Rhythm of Life from Sweet Charity. It ran the whole gamut of musical theatre from West Side Story, through songs from Mary Poppins, Wicked, Avenue Q and many more.
These were interspersed with amusing sketches, which helped to tell the story and made the evening not just another ‘songs from the shows’.
It would be unfair to mention any performer by name as the whole show relied on every principal and chorus member playing their part to the full.
The audience on Friday obviously thoroughly enjoyed this different kind of show from Lichfield Operatic Society.
Must say a word about some of the back stage support – great costumes from Jean Taylor and her team – super lighting design (again!) from Stephen Rainsford and his crew, stage director Oliver Rowe, sound designer Ian Oakland and stage manager Matthew Garfield.
And there were some good dance routines from choreographer Natalie Blackwell and the orchestra was brilliant.
Congratulations to everyone who took part in this light-hearted tribute to musical theatre.
We will all, I’m sure, be flocking for tickets for the company’s next production – Cole Porter’s Anything Goes – next April.
