NODA Review - Martin Craig
Barnum is the musical based on the life of Phineas Taylor Barnum. The musical combines elements of circus with the story telling, with key moments symbolised through circus skills, the most obvious one, of course, is the finale of act one- walking the tightrope to leave his wife for Jenny Lind.
Andrew White gave a solid performance of Barnum, playing it with enthusiasm and charm. Andrew delivered all of his songs with ease, his dancing and his circus skills complimented the performance well. You could almost hear a pin drop as he walked the tightrope – well done.
The Ringmaster was played with authority and gusto by Jack McNicholas who also took the Blues singer and Bailey role.
The stand-out performances for me were Jasmin Smith as Charity Barnum and Amelia Crawford as Jenny Lind. Jasmin`s Charity had me captivated from the moment she came onstage, her voice and composed, effortless mature performance, combined with a flawless accent reminded me very much of Jane Powell`s Milly in Seven Brides- marvellous. Combine this with Emelia`s demure and vocally first-rate Swedish Nightingale, Jenny Lind, and you have two the most precocious talents I`ve seen showing exactly what they can do.
Performances from Amber Cartmell as Joice Heth, the oldest woman in the world and Jack Hawley (General Tom Thumb) were as good as their elaborate introductions suggested.
Other minor roles, far too many to mention were played well by other members of the well-rehearsed ensemble.
The set was a theatre box stage left and right with tightrope (when required) between the two. The orchestra were set upstage behind two LED banners and various pieces of scenery/ set brought on depicting the different places/scenes. The LED banners changed as the scenes did, and while this helped show the audience changes without having to slow down the action, I did feel that on the odd occasion, there was probably too much information on them and possibly too many changes, as I found myself distracted and reading them while I should really have been watching the performers.
The orchestra, under the baton of Liz Condrun, after a shaky start on the night I saw the production, were good.
Choreography by Lucy Hoban, was kept simple and effective, allowing for the differing levels of competence and age within the company.
Tony McGee`s direction provided the audience with a well-paced, good night`s entertainment.
Thank you Workington Amateur Operatic Society for your invitation and exemplary hospitality.
Martin Craig (District 11)
Andrew White gave a solid performance of Barnum, playing it with enthusiasm and charm. Andrew delivered all of his songs with ease, his dancing and his circus skills complimented the performance well. You could almost hear a pin drop as he walked the tightrope – well done.
The Ringmaster was played with authority and gusto by Jack McNicholas who also took the Blues singer and Bailey role.
The stand-out performances for me were Jasmin Smith as Charity Barnum and Amelia Crawford as Jenny Lind. Jasmin`s Charity had me captivated from the moment she came onstage, her voice and composed, effortless mature performance, combined with a flawless accent reminded me very much of Jane Powell`s Milly in Seven Brides- marvellous. Combine this with Emelia`s demure and vocally first-rate Swedish Nightingale, Jenny Lind, and you have two the most precocious talents I`ve seen showing exactly what they can do.
Performances from Amber Cartmell as Joice Heth, the oldest woman in the world and Jack Hawley (General Tom Thumb) were as good as their elaborate introductions suggested.
Other minor roles, far too many to mention were played well by other members of the well-rehearsed ensemble.
The set was a theatre box stage left and right with tightrope (when required) between the two. The orchestra were set upstage behind two LED banners and various pieces of scenery/ set brought on depicting the different places/scenes. The LED banners changed as the scenes did, and while this helped show the audience changes without having to slow down the action, I did feel that on the odd occasion, there was probably too much information on them and possibly too many changes, as I found myself distracted and reading them while I should really have been watching the performers.
The orchestra, under the baton of Liz Condrun, after a shaky start on the night I saw the production, were good.
Choreography by Lucy Hoban, was kept simple and effective, allowing for the differing levels of competence and age within the company.
Tony McGee`s direction provided the audience with a well-paced, good night`s entertainment.
Thank you Workington Amateur Operatic Society for your invitation and exemplary hospitality.
Martin Craig (District 11)