As a self-confessed hater of musicals, I really wasn’t sure what was in store for me as I went to watch the GMTG showcase at the Midland Arts Centre last week. Performed for just one night, the evening featured song and dance numbers from ‘the A-Z’ of musicals. Directed by Amy Churchman, the evening featured songs from well-known musicals such as Matilda, Evita and Oklahoma. Churchman was bold in her choices, incorporating numbers from musicals I’d never even heard of (though I’m now very keen to see!) such as Something Rotten and Pirate Queen which made for a much more interesting programme.
The live music was fantastic, conducted by Dimitri Chrysostomou, Aron Sood, Geddy Stringer and Will Tuckwell who impressed me with their sheer energy, zipping about the stage with head torches between both the orchestra and the piano. The lighting was also very effective in its simplicity, subtly complimenting the onstage action without being obtrusive or overly complex.
The actors’ talent was very strong across the board, incorporating slick routines and technically challenging numbers. Moments which stood out though across such a highly professional evening were Nia Tilley’s rendition of The Stepsister’s Lament from Cinderella which she performed with incredible levels of sass and sleaze in equal measures; it was a pure delight to watch and I really hope she reprises the role again, complete with her fantastic ensemble. Beth Gilbert was absolutely stunning in her passionate performance of Someone Like You from Jekyll & Hyde; her voice had a beautiful purity which lead seamlessly into a powerful belt and she had a wonderful sense of character. Another highlight solo performance of the night was Chris Allen singing Why God Why from Miss Saigon; I truly believe that had I seen this performance in the recent West End production I would have been equally impressed. Allen’s voice was utterly flawless and he had an incredible stage presence making for a very emotive performance.
The finale of the night was another highlight – in a number from Something Rotten entitled A Musical, Tom McCann lead the full company in a parodic examination of musical theatre, which I believe was a brilliant way to end the night. McCann’s performance, along with the fantastic ensemble, was full of energy, wit and brilliant singing and dancing that had everyone in the audience with a giant smile on their face and several spectators, including myself, on their feet by the end.
GMTG should be very proud – every number was well rehearsed but still beautifully spontaneous in its execution. The choreography (by Ellen Howard and Bryony Parsons) was quirky and original and the songs were carefully selected to show off each performer’s different strengths. Churchman and her team should be thrilled with what they’ve achieved: as well as thoroughly entertaining the entire audience, they’ve completely converted me and I will certainly be attending future showcases!
