View from the Green Room: Tip-top-tappers on Broadway
Dancing Down Broadway, by Jack Cunningham Productions, was performed at Garter Lane.
It’s the time of the year when summer productions of stage schools draw big crowds of family and friends.
It’s an opportunity to showcase up and coming talent and there’s certainly no shortage of that.
Many of Jack Cunningham’s cast tonight has received Green Room Awards and nominations, and Joe Shanahan won the much-coveted “Green Room Best Youth Performance Award” for his stand-out role as Gomez in the Addams Family Musical last year.
With so much talent available, tonight’s programme nods to huge stand-out musicals, such as “Oklahoma” and “Showboat”, while wrapping its arms around today’s big-ticket shows, such as “Hercules” and “Wicked”.
Soul Dance Arts productions never stop. Once the overture is sounded, it’s a rollockin' ride to the finish with barely time to draw breath. “Something about this night” from “Finding Neverland” brings busy performances from Sam Horsfall and Jack O’Brien, before an incredible performance of “Ol’ Man River” with its massive range from the young voices of Fred Kennedy and Max Philpott (who alternates the role).
Six powerful voices from Ellen Jacob, Holly Grant, Hannah Power, Sophie Reynolds, Emma Power and Millie Sloan power their way through “Don’t lose your head” before a trio of Princess Fionas (Lily Bardgett, Leah Barden and Olivia Walsh) lament that “I know it’s not today”.
Jack Cunningham’s troupe – who always seem to be enjoying themselves – bring us a Stetson full of memories that begin with that brand new state of Oklahoma sung by a huge chorus of young voices.
There’s a boo bop a loo bop medley from Grease, followed by “Where I wanna be” from “Boop the Musical” that features Holly Grant with her teen ensemble.
“All fall down” from Chaplin (features Sophie Reynolds who alternates with Olivia Walsh) is wistful, and a standout medley from Wicked brings a massive and well-deserved ovation for Jenna Dunphy’s “Defying Gravity” that is simply outstanding.
The medleys continue into the second act with full choruses and stand out singing from the superb Joe Shanahan in the difficult ballad “Santa Fe”.
Sam Hosfall and his Godspell disciples “beseech thee”; Hannah Power, Hannah Porter, Anna Kenneally, Leah Barden, Holley Coogan et al “Ease us on down the road” and then it’s off to Flapperland for Thoroughly Modern Millie. Ellen Jacob and Holly Grant are a hot twosome from Chicago before the junior cast long for “Pure Imagination” in Wonkaland.
“Mean Girls” and “Momma Mia” sets a hot temperature that sends us “All shook up” out into the night with a hunka, hunka burning love as Elvis exits the building on the stroke of 10pm after a non-stop, rompin’ stompin, foot-tappin’ “Dancing Down Broadway”.
I’m delighted to note that Jack Cunningham’s excellent programme always includes the running time. It’s important and should be included in all programmes.
