Date: 5 July 2014
Venue: Harraton Community Centre
Type of Production: Concert
Producer / Director: Ann Chadwick
Musical Director: Janette Waugh
Review Author: Gordon Richardson
It’s always a pleasure to visit Fatfield MSS and experience the ‘family feel’ that is palpable throughout its ranks. This pleasure is not based purely on the welcome received but on the undoubted talent on show.
A concert is always a chance to showcase the talents of a society and this was true of “West End comes to Washington” – the audience, seated in a cabaret-style format, saw exactly what it ‘said on the tin’. Covering twenty-one musicals from ‘Aspects of Love’ to ‘West Side Story (with many others in between) the society truly brought a taste of ‘West End’ to the venue.
The playing area had been extended with staging to give the feel of a wide stairway which allowed the performers to utilize not only the stage and the steps but descend smoothly onto the floor giving an altogether more informal and friendly experience for the audience. ‘Costumes’ consisted of smart attire for gentlemen, whilst the ladies (as was ever thus) outshone them in a bedazzling array of evening wear, long dresses in the second act after the first act of ‘sparkly ‘outfits and hats.
No sound reinforcement was used or indeed needed, as performers projected wonderfully. The lighting plot worked in the context of the concert.
Movement, whilst simple, was effective, especially in the finale of Act 1 and Act 2. Although, inevitably in a concert, there were many soloists including Sarah Alcock, Sarah Booth, Barbara Simpson, Anne Taylor, Bethan Waller, Mike Beckford, Lawrence Chadwick, James Forster and Nick Thomson – the chorus, consisting of a further ten members, played its part in adding to the depth of the music on show.
Special mention must go to Janette Waugh for her talents on the keyboard throughout as she accompanied most of the numbers performed.
Although impossible to mention everyone’s solos, special mention must go to the number “Prima Donna” from ‘Phantom’ which involved six of the voices in various timbres to great effect. Also worthy of praise was Anne Taylor for her solo “I Am What I Am” from ‘La Cage aux Folles’ which was outstanding.
Nick Thompson deserves special praise for overcoming a technical difficulty when a backing track failed for his performance of “Turn Back the Clock” from ‘Christmas Carol’ resulting in him having to have to postpone to later in the running order. When he returned his deep melodious tones and emotion completely ‘nailed it’ for one of the highlights of the evening.
Well done to all at FMSS – a thoroughly entertaining evening.