May 2013 – Don’t Stop Believin’
Saturday 4th May 2013 – 7:30pm
Sunday 5th May 2013 – 2:30 & 7:30pm
Newspaper Review
You have to admire the talent displayed by the up-and-coming young people in West Bromwich Operatic Society’s youtheatre.
A cast of over 60, aged between 11 and 18, zipped through a varied programme of songs from the musicals, some famous, others not so well known, but all offering a challenge.
Whether it was solos, duets or items for the full company, the youngsters performed with distinction, even turning on the style with some slick choreography.
Lucy Fellows and Hannah Bowen made the first big impact with I Know Him So Well, from Chess, and in the first act other outstanding performances came from Lydia Orme and Sam Ody (The Prayer), Tom Whitehouse and Jessica Ray (Feeling Good) and Tilly Thompson and Katie Harrison (Naughty).
Then, after the interval, Chelyr Hume thrilled the audience with I Know Where I’ve Been (Hairspray), while young Ben Evans made a special impact with his song and dance number, Electricity, from Billy Elliot.
Other fine contributions came from Maison Kelley with Empty Chairs and Empty Tables (Les Miserables), Anya Chalotra, Hannah Bowen and Lucy Follows (Landslide) and Amber Lloyd (Home, from Beauty and the Beast).
Lisa Metcalfe and Claire Kramer produced and choreographed the show, with Ian Stephenson’s musical direction. The third and final performance was on Sunday night.
VERDICT: * * * *
PAUL MARSTON
Production Team
Producer / Choreographer: Lisa Metcalfe & Claire Kramer
Musical Director: Ian Stephenson
Co-ordinator: Malcolm Hughes
Registrar: Adrian Holmes
Ticket Sales: Jim Houghton
Programme: Malcolm Hughes
Musicians
Keyboard : Gemma Soden
Guitar : Mark Checkley
Bass: Mike Thomas
Drums : Dave Shipley
Costumes: Pat Badger, Jo Evans & Parents
Tickets: Jim Houghton
Stage Manager: Thomas Jevons
Deputy: Jo Marshall
Ass : Steve Ody
Ass: Jim Houghton
Props: Joanne Jevons
Front of House: Karen Hawkins
Dressing Room: Cheryl Smith
Sound: Edward & Hilary Matty
Will Hawkins & Emma Nicholas
Lighting: John Gough and Team
Cast List
Concert Number
|
Performed by |
| 1. Don’t Stop Believin’ | Full Company |
| 2. American Pie | Alastair Winning, Luke Williams, Josh Dean |
| 3. Home | Amber Lloyd |
| 4. Seize the Day | Boys Number |
| 5. I Know Him So Well | Lucy Follows, Hannah Bowen |
| 6. So Long Farewell | Chloe Hawkins, Katie Harrison, Jorgia Kilkenny, Emma Laughland, Emily Hampton, Tom Harrison, Jack Harrison |
| 7. Loose Ends | Poppy Aston |
| 8. Imagine | Full Company |
| 9. She’s My Sister | Amy Evans, Poppy Thompson |
| 10. One Rock & Roll Too Many | Matt Nicholas, Jacob Kohli (Backing Singers – Vito Scattone, Nico Scattone, Jack Webb, Ben Rodan & Zak Matty) |
| 11. The Prayer | Sam Ody, Lydia Orme |
| 12. Thriller | Full Company |
| 13. Don’t Let Go | Hayley Owen, Chelyr Hume, Charlotte Edmunds, Megan Lawley |
| 14. Too Late to Turn Back Now | Maison Kelley, Anya Chalotra |
| 15. Feeling Good | Tom Whitehouse (Jessica Ray will be lead dancer) |
| 16. You’ll Never Walk Alone | Full Company |
| 17. Naughty | Tilly Thompson, Katie Harrison |
| 18. Get What You Give | Maison Kelley, Beth Mahoney, Tom Whitehouse, Sam Ody, Lydia Orme, Anya Chalotra |
| 19. Maybe This Time | Lucy Follows |
| 20. Proud Mary | Full Company |
| 21. Ease on Down the Road | Full Company |
| 22. Well, did you Evah? | Oliver Jevons, Gavin Duffy |
| 23. Revolting Children | Tilly Thompson, Poppy Thompson, Olly Thompson, Hannah Stephenson, Lydia Stephenson, Amy Evans, Ben Evans, Tom Withers, Andreas Koshionis, Alastair Winning, Crystal Helland |
| 24. What You Own | Sam Ody, Tom Whitehouse |
| 25. Jet Set | The Girls |
| 26. Electricity | Ben Evans |
| 27. Landslide | Hannah Bowen, Lucy Follows, Anya Chalotra |
| 28. I Want to Be Like Other Girls | Lydia Stephenson, Jorgia Kilkenny, Georgia Lloyd, Chloe Hawkins, Crystal Helland, Amy Jevons |
| 29. I Know Where I’ve Been | Chelyr Hume |
| 30. Till We Reach That Day | Full Company |
| 31. I Wish I May | Charlotte Edmunds, Hayley Owen, Poppy Thompson |
| 32. I Want You Back | Tom Withers, Ben Evans, Jack Harrison, Tom Harrison, James Harris |
| 33. Empty Chairs & Empty Tables | Maison Kelley |
| 34. Maybe I Like it This Way | Anya Chalotra |
| 35. Footloose | Full Company |
| 35a. I’m Free | The Boys |
| 35b. Holding out for a Hero | Nika Norman, Eleanor Barnes, Paige Nicholas, Kalianne Harper |
| 35c. Let’s hear it for the Boy | The Girls |
| 35d. Almost Paradise | Lydia Stephenson, Matt Nicholas |
| 35e. Footloose Reprise | Full Company |
