You may have read my previous thoughts on how difficult it is to get your feet, arms, legs, body, head etc to move the way that you want them to and project that effortless grace associated with the word dance. As our company started learning the fantastic 'Havana' number last night, it appeared that I may not be the only person who finds it a challenge.
As Rico, I don't appear in this particular dance number, which means that I had the joy of sitting there watching the others for a couple of hours as they tried to remember when to wiggle their hips from one side to the other and how far to tap their legs around for different counts and rhythms. Overall I will admit that the whole thing was hilarious to watch - as indeed it seemed to be for many of those taking part.
I am delighted that this show allows all of the Belper Musical Theatre company to take to the stage in some big dance numbers, showing off the many talents of all of us. We are ably supported by some amazingly professional dancers as well - I think that they will have the biggest feathers in the live show!
But for me, the abiding memory last night will be the wonderful facial expressions of our lovely ladies as they threw their hips to the wind and with wild abandon pulled seductive expressions and shimmied, shoulder shook and side stepped their way around the song. Well done to everyone - and I promise not to post the video I took in public!
However, if anyone wants to see what a couple of our male members were up to as they showed the ladies an alternative approach, you can have a look here:
Enjoy!
Thursday 8 December 2011
Tuesday 6 December 2011
Honk - a review
It's taken me long enough, but here at last is my personal review of the Belper Junior Musical Theatre production of Honk! I am sorry it wasn't here sooner.
Regardless of whether I review this as a parent of one of the cast members, a paying member of the audience, or a committee member of Belper Musical Theatre my overall reaction to the show is incredibly positive for a job well done.
The audience took their seats in the newly refurbished theatre hall at Belper School and there was an air of excitement and anticipation that this was going to be something special. The four piece band commenced their introduction and the curtains drew back to a simple but effective set, displaying five eggs, one of which was a little outsized compared to the others.
On strode Dominic Osin singing as Drake with confidence to welcome us to their particular backwater of England (for some bizarre reason referred to as a dockyard in the programme - note to self, read it more carefully next time!). He was rapidly joined by other leading members of the cast and the chorus, all of whom brought their own enthusiasm to this company focused show. Lucy Taylor, as Ida, brought warmth to her role and sang her songs with feeling and great clarity. And as Carys Lesley took to the stage as the cat, she gave a real mischevious angle to the part.
After a lovely duet with Katy Varney, who gave us a great little tap routine, four pairs of legs popped through the fencing as the eggs began to hatch. The four little ducklings who took to the stage acted out the necessary cuteness of their role before being taken off for a swim by Drake as Ida waited for the fifth and final egg to crack open.
The pre-reprise (is that really a word?) of Different echoed hauntingly across the audience, the top of the egg lifted off and we were blasted by a loud 'Honk!' as Ugly, played by Daniel Shaw, broke his way into the farmyard. After a highly comical 'Hold your head up high', which included a well received muscle stretching session prior to trying a dive, the mood of the show was set. Ugly was outstanding and acted constantly whenever he was on the stage, whether this was to the jeers and catcalls (probably should be duckcalls?) during 'Look at you', as the Cat prepared him for her dinner during 'You can play with your food', as he learnt alongside the wild geese in 'wildgoose chase' or in his tear jerking duet with Ida in the reprise of 'Hold your head up high'.
There were many great moments from other cast members - showing that this really was a performance made up from the sum of all its parts. Izzy Davidson was 'cracking' as Greylag and Molly Hewitt-Richardson showed her future potential as an air stewardess as she invited us to take to the skies in her role as Dot.
We returned to our seats after the interval and the treats continued. The whole cast once again shone as we found out how Drake had got on in Ida's absence before following Ida on her travels, accompanied by an entertaining visual display on the gauze.
Ugly met Penny, perfectly played by Holly Pridmore, and there were a couple of touching moments - despite potential embarrassment for this young team of actors. Myra Peacock brought the house down in her role as the Bullfrog, earning a well deserved round of applause as she hopped off the stage. Her comic timing was excellent and she clearly revelled in this part.
As the Cat lead Ugly away, Nicola Henshaw treated us to an enchanting solo in 'The Blizzard' before the set changed again to show two lumps of ice as Ida arrived on the scene again - her little son frozen to death.
The final moments here were well acted, suggesting real sadness at the potential loss of the little duckling and then joy all round as the swans returned and the whole farmyard was reunited again.
There were some issues with the sound and the visible presence of the cast behind the gauze was distracting at times, but these were minor compared to the professionalism of the show overall.
Elsewhere on our blog we've had the comment that a good show needs to have a great story line and songs that you'll be singing as you leave the theatre. Based on this performance, I'd add in that good delivery needs a cast who learn the songs well, deliver them with energy, accuracy and enthusiasm and who act with feeling. And for me Honk delivered all of this.
Well done to everyone involved.
One final note from me now, you can read the official NODA review of the performance on their website here: http://www.noda.org.uk/Regions/East-Midlands/Show-Reports-East-Midlands/districts/district-2/belper-junior-musical-theatre and see how much their representative enjoyed it too.
Regardless of whether I review this as a parent of one of the cast members, a paying member of the audience, or a committee member of Belper Musical Theatre my overall reaction to the show is incredibly positive for a job well done.
The audience took their seats in the newly refurbished theatre hall at Belper School and there was an air of excitement and anticipation that this was going to be something special. The four piece band commenced their introduction and the curtains drew back to a simple but effective set, displaying five eggs, one of which was a little outsized compared to the others.
On strode Dominic Osin singing as Drake with confidence to welcome us to their particular backwater of England (for some bizarre reason referred to as a dockyard in the programme - note to self, read it more carefully next time!). He was rapidly joined by other leading members of the cast and the chorus, all of whom brought their own enthusiasm to this company focused show. Lucy Taylor, as Ida, brought warmth to her role and sang her songs with feeling and great clarity. And as Carys Lesley took to the stage as the cat, she gave a real mischevious angle to the part.
After a lovely duet with Katy Varney, who gave us a great little tap routine, four pairs of legs popped through the fencing as the eggs began to hatch. The four little ducklings who took to the stage acted out the necessary cuteness of their role before being taken off for a swim by Drake as Ida waited for the fifth and final egg to crack open.
The pre-reprise (is that really a word?) of Different echoed hauntingly across the audience, the top of the egg lifted off and we were blasted by a loud 'Honk!' as Ugly, played by Daniel Shaw, broke his way into the farmyard. After a highly comical 'Hold your head up high', which included a well received muscle stretching session prior to trying a dive, the mood of the show was set. Ugly was outstanding and acted constantly whenever he was on the stage, whether this was to the jeers and catcalls (probably should be duckcalls?) during 'Look at you', as the Cat prepared him for her dinner during 'You can play with your food', as he learnt alongside the wild geese in 'wildgoose chase' or in his tear jerking duet with Ida in the reprise of 'Hold your head up high'.
There were many great moments from other cast members - showing that this really was a performance made up from the sum of all its parts. Izzy Davidson was 'cracking' as Greylag and Molly Hewitt-Richardson showed her future potential as an air stewardess as she invited us to take to the skies in her role as Dot.
We returned to our seats after the interval and the treats continued. The whole cast once again shone as we found out how Drake had got on in Ida's absence before following Ida on her travels, accompanied by an entertaining visual display on the gauze.
Ugly met Penny, perfectly played by Holly Pridmore, and there were a couple of touching moments - despite potential embarrassment for this young team of actors. Myra Peacock brought the house down in her role as the Bullfrog, earning a well deserved round of applause as she hopped off the stage. Her comic timing was excellent and she clearly revelled in this part.
As the Cat lead Ugly away, Nicola Henshaw treated us to an enchanting solo in 'The Blizzard' before the set changed again to show two lumps of ice as Ida arrived on the scene again - her little son frozen to death.
The final moments here were well acted, suggesting real sadness at the potential loss of the little duckling and then joy all round as the swans returned and the whole farmyard was reunited again.
There were some issues with the sound and the visible presence of the cast behind the gauze was distracting at times, but these were minor compared to the professionalism of the show overall.
Elsewhere on our blog we've had the comment that a good show needs to have a great story line and songs that you'll be singing as you leave the theatre. Based on this performance, I'd add in that good delivery needs a cast who learn the songs well, deliver them with energy, accuracy and enthusiasm and who act with feeling. And for me Honk delivered all of this.
Well done to everyone involved.
One final note from me now, you can read the official NODA review of the performance on their website here: http://www.noda.org.uk/Regions/East-Midlands/Show-Reports-East-Midlands/districts/district-2/belper-junior-musical-theatre and see how much their representative enjoyed it too.
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