Gareth In Mad About Musicals - Redditch

[helpinghands]

Thank you Maureen for this great and detailed report. We can imagine how hard it must have been to rely on public transport, it just shows your devotion to Gareth, I know lots of you fans wait around in all weathers to see him, and travel far in difficult circumstances. My Deborah couldn't see him either afterwards, but maybe another time.

love Deborah and H xx

[carol]

Here is a review of Mad About Musicals

love Carol xxx


Tightly structured and cleverly chosen, Michael Courtney's tenth anniversary tour of his Mad About the Musicals show is a pleasing affair on several levels.

The first half contains a succession of surprises and half-remembered delights from such shows as City of Angels and Half a Sixpence with a taster of Dr Zhivago for intrigue's sake. The requisite build into the interval comes in the form of a medley from We Will Rock You, with Manolo Polidairo providing the necessary hot licks on guitar. The second half rolls out the hits – from Phantom to Les Mis.

Courtney introduces it all with a gently bantering comedy, using Gareth Gates as side-kick. A well-placed take on Bui Doi breaks into the joviality well. Removed from the context of Miss Saigon it feels strangely pertinent to the contemporary refugee crisis.

Courtney can deliver vocally, and relishes a medley of numbers from Jesus Christ Superstar, but knows how to choose his support. He makes great use of Gates' light, high register while the trio of female singers provide some real insights, collectively - notably in a risqué arrangement of Big Spender - and individually.

Kerry O'Dowd, in particular, delivers a spine-tingling The Man Who Got Away from A Star is Born, coaxing out the narrative with a real sense of personal bitterness. Nichola Lagan also finds the storytelling in Maybe This Time from Cabaret. Roxanne Priest, who provides a crispness and vocal strength throughout, is less well served but finds all the requisite power for What I Did For Love.

A solid band under the musical direction of Bruce Knight and straightforward but dramatic lighting by Keith Stallard ensure the presentation is as smooth as the structure.


Verdict
Well-structured whisk through numbers from a dozen musicals provides a solid evening's entertainment
12345
TagsLIGHT ENTERTAINMENTMUSICAL THEATRE