Winner of three NODA Awards
ASMS – Best Concert Award in District 9,
ASMS – Councillors Best Concert Award District 9,
ASMS – Councillors Best Concert Award North Region.
Cabaret on Broadway Stuns Alnwick Audiences!
Some events stay with you forever and I vividly remember sitting in Lindisfarne school in 2019 watching The Alnwick stage Musical Society’s production of Cabaret on Broadway as if it were yesterday. Why do I remember it? Not just because a production team had made a school hall like a night club and because they had risen to the challenge of putting on a show in support of Alnwick Playhouse and to assist the fundraising of its refurbishment but because it was a wonderful!
It was so good that I felt it should have been given the chance to display the talents to a bigger audience and on a larger stage. And tonight I went to see just that.
From the moment I opened one of the most professional and informative programmes I had ever read, produced by Mark Stenton, I knew this was going to be a show which not only displays talent, energy and enthusiasm but the love of theatre. Much care had been taken to ensure that the balance of numbers reflected the music of today with the melodies that made our hearts beat from a different era.
This care was also reflected in that the music chosen, enabling members of the ensemble to showcase their ability in the spotlight.
None of this could have been possible without the talents of Kellie Hughes and Leonie Airlie as the Directors. Their considerable talents on stage are surely matched with their ability to write the script and create the magic that is theatre. The flow of the show, for the readers who were unfortunate not to have seen it, follows the highs and lows of success and aspirations of a group of singers. It allows the balance of high- octane energy to meet the pathos and reflections of disappointment with equal thoughtfulness.
The marvellous Compere, Peter Brown brought his own brand of outrageous style to the mix and the audience loved it. Peter and the band should not be forgotten as they were the backbone of the evening and were of the highest quality.
Thirty two songs and showstoppers entertained us for two exhilarating hours. The choreography by Kellie, Leonie and Lynne Lambert kept us all enthralled and wishing we could join in. And by the end some people did!
Of course, what is a musical without the singing. The ability to catch and hold the attention of an audience is the aim of any performer. To transcend the person we are in our daily life, stand centre stage and become a character of fiction takes not only talent but also needs confidence, courage and hard work.
All of these elements were here tonight. All of the singers are to be praised for their interpretations of their songs. I felt for Tallulah (Melanie Grey) and was so relieved when “Billie Flynn” (Stuart Archer) shows her how to “Razzle Dazzle”, Chicago style. Stuart also showed his versatility by accompanying the amazing Arlene Cadman in, “I Remember it well”
I wanted Lynne Lambert to get the parts in the audition after hearing “Broadway Baby” and Gary Brown’s luck will change and he will get a part. They all made me believe in their characters even though they have stardom already!
From” Raise your Voice” through to” The Greatest show” the upbeat company numbers were fabulous. The singing of the multi-talented Leonie and Kellie, the melodious voice of Peter Biggers, the driving force of Matthew Winter, the depth of singing from all of the cast were wrapped around the quieter numbers. The self -accompanying guitar playing of Mark Stenton was a bonus to his accomplished singing with the tuneful Lisa Gladstone. Lisa also transformed into the harridan in master of the House. And the beautiful rendition of “As if we never said Goodbye” by Diane Maughan will stay with me long after the show has stopped.
All of the cast, crew and orchestra deserve to be mentioned by name as they provided a night to remember.
Another brilliant show from The Alnwick Stage Music Society!
