| amateur theatre | reviews list | |
| A mixed bag... | |
WHOA III – THE FINAL CUT |
[print] |
What Was That? Productions |
|
Y Joint, Undeb y Myfyrwyr, Prifysgol Aberystwyth |
|
February 29, 2008 |
|
For a couple of years now, former Aberystwyth University student Alan Mehdizadeh’s production company ‘What Was That? Productions’ has kept us entertained with a series of showcase performances that display the very best of the talent in his own company and that of the AU Musical Theatre Society ‘Curtain Call’. Last year, we were treated to a showtunes showcase – this year, we turned to songs from the movies.Hosted by an ebullient Mehdizadeh and his two high-energy co-hosts (Adam Lacey and Adam Lacey’s grin), this was an evening I had been anticipated with some alacrity, but, while Mehdizadeh’s eye for talent is still in evidence, the quality overall was not to the same exacting standard WHOA aficionados could normally expect. Kicking off with Lacey’s own spirited rendition of the Willy Wonka showtune ‘Candyman’, my interest was peaked, especially since my memories of the last WHOA outing were so rosy. This was followed by a determined but not altogether successful performance of ‘Can’t Fight the Moonlight’ by Caroline Godsell, who returned in more emotional form to give his her take on ‘My Heart Will Go On’, which worked rather more fluidly, at least up until the bridge. Rebecca Renton, to whom I have given at least two or three reviews of late, was on form again, and though I did not feel her opening number, ‘Stand By Me’ was the best showcase for her prodigious talent, she did the song more than justice, and by the time she and Delyth Owen took to the stage to duet on ‘Prince of Egypt’ signature number ‘When You Believe’, she was on top form, as was Owen, to give us a memorable performance. Another velvet-smooth performance came from Luke Allen, who delivered a very moving and highly soulful version of ‘You Are So Beautiful To Me’. Fair play, I have to concede, to Ryan Woodruff. Though what might be described as a lyric malfunction occurred during his opening number – ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight?’ – he returned with more energy than an on-heat rabbit with ADHD to deliver his own unique take on the Beatles classic ‘Hey Jude’. Showmanship when singing is very key, but it has to be able to be pulled off with a degree of brio. Woodruff did his best, and though his attempts at crowd rousing and falsetto improv ultimately fell flat on their arias, he was a very entertaining member of the troupe. Stars of the show, however, were the sumptuous, radiant talent of Emma Lester, whose delivery of Whitney Houston’s ‘I Have Nothing’ sailed effortlessly and with stupefying power from the slight figure of a girl who, I am bound to say, I did not think would acquit herself well in terms of stage presence (I was, however, very wrong), and Rachel Crane – ever the local diva – who gave a rousing performance of Cab Calloway’s ‘Minnie the Moocher’ with a level of showmanship that put many others to shame. I cannot, in all good conscience, as an honest critic, claim to have been blown away this year as I was last. Some performances were exquisite, some substandard and others quite pleasing, if mediocre. One thing, however, stands like stone – Alan Mehdizadeh is director of a company that covers a complete spectrum, but demands one thing from everyone – potential. If nothing else – that was the quality I saw in spades, and I wish him and his company very well for their upcoming production of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ |
|
| Paddy Cooper | |
| This review has been read 736 times |
|
Privacy Policy | Contact Us | ©2006 keith morris / red snapperr web deisgns / keith@artx.co.uk