SIX OF THE BEST!
The Savoy Youth Theatre presented The Best Of The West at the Savoy Theatre from Thursday 16th to Saturday 18th November 2006.
Each show that the group stages has proved to be more ambitious than the last. This production condensed six of the great West End shows into a highly charged evening’s entertainment, ranging through Blood Brothers, Guys and Dolls, The Sound Of Music, Chicago, Phantom Of The Opera and Les Miserables. The programme gave a great opportunity for the cast members to show off their talent. But the Group took charge offstage as well as on the boards, developing their own dance routines, creating costumes, backstage lighting and sound. Savoy Trust Director Vic Bignell commented that at this rate he would soon be able to retire! He added, “I would like to pay special tribute to Dani Bailey, who has pulled the whole show together magnificently.”
Rob Mason and his musicians were no less hardworking in tackling the sheer range of the show. He said, “I did have some doubts that even this group, good as they are, could manage such an achievement.” Assistant Director Dani Bailey said she was glad to prove him wrong, remarking that she had coached and harassed her cast at every opportunity, including school lunch breaks, to gain perfection!
Dani also opened the show as Mrs Johnstone from ‘Blood Brothers’, which included the cameo appearance of Marilyn Monroe by Kate Mortimer, and well supported by Laura Tattersdill as Mrs Lyons, the set closing with “Tell Me It’s Not True”.
“A few of my favourite things” would take a while to list. Sara Garrett as Maria took the lead with this song in The Sound of Music, which featured Hannah Green’s emotive “Climb Every Mountain”, and Anwen Shaw-Penman’s “16 Going On 17” duet with James Harley. James made a major impact with his rendering of “Empty Chairs At Empty Tables” in “Les Miserables”, voted best song by cast members.
The Youth Theatre’s “Phantom of the Opera” rendition was truly a little scary. Dave Pearson reappeared in the mask (having played the “devil or narrator” character in Blood Brothers and highlighting as Sky Masterson in “Luck Be a Lady”). Chlöe Powell’s dance routine was spot-on, while Emma Harries as Christine captured the torture of learning the Phantom’s terrible secret with a flawless vocal performance. Chris Davies played her childhood sweetheart Raoul, in a melodramatic sequence featuring “Think Of Me” and duetting with Emma in “All I Ask Of You”. Chris’s solo as “Mr Cellophane” in Chicago was a standout, and his unique voice was well to the fore in the “Les Miserables”. He also led the inventive and spirited “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ The Boat” from “Guys And Dolls”.
On a lighter note, Beth Powell charmed the responsive audience with her cheeky version of “A Bushel And A Peck” from “Guys & Dolls”, and led the dancers in “Take Back Your Mink” to a warm reception, while Jo Mortimer used the stage well in “If I Were A Bell”.
Beth Powell’s Velma in “Chicago” (“All That Jazz”) opposite Sara Garrett’s Roxy was equally memorable, and Dani Bailey took audience participation even further in her sultry “Mama M” number, receiving loud acclaim.
The Savoy Youth Theatre had a number of new recruits, making their names this time as nuns and Von Trapp family members, including Rhi Shaw-Penman, Ffion Rawsthorne, Stef Thorpe, Alice Pearson and Laura Tattersdill. Mhairi Wilson and Alli Jones supported as chorus members all the way through.
The players also organised a collection for ‘Children In Need’
from the good people who attended the show.
Through the three nights a total of about £500 was raised.
