I Am Back!

Hi Musicals fans and friends. Firstly, a big apology for my absence which was due to a busted computer for a while and then writers block.

I would like to tell you of some of the musicals I have been lucky enough to see in the last few months. One was a big West End production while others were Amature productions but well put together and no less enjoyable.The West End musical was predictably The Andrew Lloyd Webber production of the "Wizard Of Oz". When I saw it the role of Dorothy. normally played by Danielle Hope, the winner of the B.B.C's "Over the Rainbow",  was taken on by her understudy; the runner up of aformentioned show - Sophie Evans - who was an absolute delight, sweet and with a beautifull voice. The other major star being Michael Crawford who did not dissapoint in any way. He took on the roles of Professor Marvel, the Doorman to the Emerald City,The Tour Guide and of course the Wizard. This revamped version of the classic show had a few new musical numbers added written by Sir Andrew and his old sparing partner, the hugely talented Tim Rice ." Nobody Understands Me" is a little intro number sung by Dorothy, nothing special but nice all the same. Then its time for Michael as the Prof to take on his main number "Wonders of the World" a great semi -  patter song which suited his voice so well and was probably my favorite moment in the show. It is such a clever piece of theatre where Professor Marvel shows the mesmerized Dorothy all the places his visited on one of the first moving picture projectors a mock up of a Kinescope.It is also the moment when Toto grabs the sausage from the fork waved about by the Proff. Toto was played by a very cute Westie who performed all his tricks perfectly on the night along with a little encouragement from the treats surreptitiously fed to him by Dorothy.The next new number is deliverd by Marianne Benedict playing a deliciously Wicked Witch of the west."Red Shoe Blues" delivers what the title suggests: a great blues number with a Broadway back note. Marianne swoops around the stage surrounded by the very buff army of Winkies in a very well choreographed number. A few connecting numbers have been added to the score as well "If we only had a plan" expertly deliverd by Dorothy, Tinman, Scarecrow and Lion. Also the powerful voice of Mr Crawford belts out "Bring Me the Broomstick" and the average "You Went to see the Wizard". The last and probably the most recognizably Webber number"Already Home was beautifully sung by Emily Tierney playing Glinda and Sophie Evans backed by the whole Ensemble. This very slick production is a visual and vocal event that I can thoroughly endorse.

I was also pleased to see my first amature production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" This was a Little Theatre Production" production and was in my eyes equal in parts to some of the profesional casts I have seen. With a simple set of Scafolding and well placed props it let the cast be the stars of the night - though the huge wooden cross was beathtaking. Well done to the set builders and designer Peter Finley. Cast wise the accelades must go to Scott Roche as Judas a powerfull voice with great breath control and the enchanting vocal skills of Claire Wilson as Mary Magdalene. Her delivery of "I Don't Know How to Love Him"was truley haunting. I left this show both moved and eager to see there next Production, a very different choice "All Shook up" a musical backed by the hits of Elvis. No I do not own shares in the Little Theatre Company!

My final musical was an adaptation of one of my favourite childhood books "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. This was put on by Leigh Operatic and Dramatic Society and was another musical gem.I will leave a review of this show for my next arrticle which will follow shortly.

Thank you  your patience. Hopefully this return will not echo Norma Desmond's with a murder and the arrest of an ageing old ham.