WEST END THEATRE IN PONTEFRACT....
WELL ALMOST, SAYS MAURICE HAIGH
ADDED 29 APRIL 2006
On
Thursday 30th March 2006 my wife Kath and I had the pleasure of
attending the Leydon-Smith School of Dance and Theatre production Live
Show 2005, presented in the recently refurbished Pontefract Town Hall. I
feel obliged firstly, to pay tribute to the design team responsible for
the transformation that has taken place within. The quality of interior
decoration can only be described as superb and fantastic! The white
painted curve of the ceiling set with arched plaster decorations, subtly
picked out with red and gold, continued to the wonderfully sculptured
plaques which adorned the balcony frontage – all beautifully done. I
could only sit and wonder at the quality of workmanship carried out by
the painters and decorators who had worked on the project. The stage
curtains in a deep shade of red compliment the warm and colourful
interior. But, for its size, you could have imagined yourself watching a
performance in an old West End theatre music hall.
…the
stage was filled with girls in the most daring and revealing of costumes…
The
show itself commenced at 7.00pm. A grand opening to the show was from
the adult entertainers singing a medley of Queen songs. The group sang
in pleasant harmony and with great enthusiasm, which gave a good start
to the evening’s entertainment. This was soon to be followed with the
well-known song from ‘The King and I’ musical, ‘Getting to Know
You’. The stage, overflowing with some of the younger cast members,
dressed in the finest of period clothing, were led into the singing by a
very musically talented soprano, Sarah Barker. Without a pause they were
quickly followed by Group 3 and 4, singing and dancing to the Cockney
‘Lambeth Walk’ song. They shone ever so brightly in their sparkling
jackets and sequined caps. Before the lights had a moment to fade, the
stage was filled with girls in the most daring and revealing of
costumes, who were cast members of the Musical Theatre, with Group 1 in
support, entertaining us with their interpretation of the Cell Block
Tango, taken from the musical ‘Chicago’.
Kevin
Higgins dominated the stage playing the lead role of Humpty Dumpty,
sitting on his wall surrounded by the smallest and youngest cast members
who were dressed in their smart military uniforms acting out their roles
as ‘The King’s Men’. But when Humpty Dumpty fell off his wall due
to over enthusiastic swaying to the music, the King’s soldiers tried
to put him back together again but sadly were unable to save him. The
‘Big Spender’ sketch brought a little humour to the evening’s
entertainment. The audience bore witness to the two drunken husbands who
had been enjoying a drunken evening out, and up to no good with the
ladies, and were chased off the stage, hotly pursued by their respective
wives waving rolling pins in the air.
Any
Dream, Musical Theatre Group, Adult Jazz Class with Kevin Higgins and
Darren Wakefield and Amarillo soon followed. Sailors with a nautical
influence was performed by young cast members, the medley of hornpipes
and other sea related songs found an audience who were quick to clap and
stamp their feet in support of such a worthy effort. The closing theme,
which took us to the interlude, was taken from ‘Fame’ and was
performed with great energy and vibrancy.
The
second half of the evening’s entertainment began with a medley of
songs taken from the musical ‘’My Fair Lady’, performed elegantly
by the adults, with solo performances by Julie Penty and Kevin Higgins.
Other acts performing throughout the evening with great enthusiasm were
Gypsy Ballet, who danced to the music of Carmen; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- Group 5 and 6 with support from Kevin Higgins and Darren Wakefield;
Anything Goes – Adult Tap; Flash Bang Wallop – Groups 2, 3 and 4;
Bye Bye Blackbird – Adult Jazz; 42nd Street Medley – Groups 1 and 2;
Snow Ballers and Skaters – Groups 4 and 5; and We Go Together –
Groups 1, 2 and 3. The closing act of the show was performed by Alan
Norrish as Elvis, who, with his cape of sparkling sequins and jump suit
to match, would have made Joseph envious of his attire. His rendering of
some of the well-known Elvis classics made a wonderful ending to a
well-presented and rehearsed production.
I
must finally mention the parent’s, friends and organisers for the
wonderful work carried out behind the scenes, which enabled the
production to run so smoothly. Also most relevant to the occasion and on
the home front must be to acknowledge the labours of the mothers who
spent many hours producing the most intricate of costumes and period
clothing. It must surely have been a labour of love!
The
beneficiaries of the musical extravaganza were:- Ackworth Riding for the
Disabled; Candlelighters; Children’s Cancer; and Alzheimer’s Society
(Wakefield and Five Towns Branch)
The
production was by Leydon-Smith School of Theatre Dance and included a
cast of about 200 performers.
Maurice Haigh.
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