Theatr na n'Og |
| Tom – A story of Tom Jones , Wales Millennium Centre , March 10, 2016 |
Wales has been known as the Land of Song since forever. Tom Jones, then Thomas John Woodward, was clearly born to sing. He was criticised at school for drowning out the choir with his rendering of Men of Harlech. His school was in Pontypridd. He was born a few miles down the road in what was then still a little known mining village, Treforest. Now of course he is one of the best-known singers of popular music throughout the world. One would expect experienced writers and directors like Geinor Styles and Mike James to produce a great story but to produce a musical based on the life of a great singer they would have to have, well a great singer. And have they got one? Yes they have, by the bucket load! Kit Orton is a great actor too. The voice, the energy and his sparkling sense of humour all combine to give us a heart-lifting experience. This is nothing less than a five star, totally captivating performance. He quietly stands in the centre of this huge stage and sings few bars of an AL Jolson song (his idle at the time). He tells us that Jolson always started quietly and built up to a big finish and that is exactly what this show does. Sean Crowley’s excellent set towers as it shows us the large iconic wheel on the top of the mine shaft lift, we close in to a line of two up, two down grey stone terraced cottages, then more intimately into a room in the Woodward household. A very young, shy and embarrassed Tom, 17 and his fifteen year old girl friend Linda have revealed her pregnancy to the families, but all is ok as they are very much in love and wish to get married. Orton and Elin Phillips as Linda convey the very strong feeling that they have for each other and we see it grow as their story progresses. We learn that Tom Jones’ rise to fame started almost by accident. He had established a reputation as a solo singer working around the South Wales working men’s clubs. His friend Vernon Hopkins, a bass player in The Senators lost their singer in the middle of a set at the Pontypridd YMCA. He took a bit of persuading but he took the plunge and the legend begins. Hopkins is played with a very confident sense of realism by John McLarnon and also has a smart hand as a bass player. The Senator actors are all both first class musicians as well as fine actors. Hopkins(bass), Dave Cooper, played by Tom Connor on Rhythm Guitar, Micky Gee (lead guitar ) both Daniel Lloyd and Kieran Bailey as Chris Slade (drums and keyboard) complete the quartet who provide top-class backing and build a great repartee with the Jones boy both as friends and fellow musicians. Other members of the cast also provide additional music as the Jones backing band is enlarged. Phylip Harries blew a prodigious tenor sax as well as providing some amazing comedy and guiding us through the rising excitement of the chronicle. Elin Phillips (Linda) bashed out the notes on the piano with aplomb and Tom’s mum Freda, Nicola Bryan gave a very fine and warm performance and blew an equally bold trumpet. No one is more convinced that Tom is meant for greater things that his wife, Linda. The Top Hat Club in Cwmtillery is the place to be if you want to be ‘discovered’. Gordon Mills, a spot on performance from Richard Corgan, who had already had a successful career as a singer/songwriter was looking for a band to manage. He was there to listen to Tom, now Tommy Scott and the Senators. He signs then up, moves them to London and we’re off! Things don’t go too smoothly at first. Tom wants to return home, he misses Linda but its Linda, after some soul searching and not withstanding their growing son Mark encourages him to stick it out. Not long after the first single came out but it did not make any impression in the charts. This was quickly followed by ‘It’s Not Unusual’ and our star was born. We were treated to a twenty-minute finale of the best-known Tom Jones numbers with Orton, still in full voice paying a fitting tribute to the well-known Jones thrusting pelvis and getting us all up on our feet to join in the singing and dancing. We remained standing to give this mighty show the standing ovation it deserved. |
Reviewed by: Michael Kelligan |
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