West End stars with a touch of Broadway magic
Posted by Mark Smith on Wednesday, November 16, 2016
The
second night of the Novello Orchestra’s two-night run at the Wales Millennium
Centre had considerably more showbiz glitz and glamour than last night's dance
affair. Broadway in Concert brought
five West End singers to the stage alongside the Novello Orchestra under the baton
of David Mahoney to sing some favourites from the Great White Way right here in
Cardiff Bay. A pre-curtain up recording of Sondheim’s Follies number ‘Broadway Baby’ sets the scene, while the brassy
overture to Cy Coleman’s Sweet Charity
whetted the audience’s appetite for what would follow.
One of the pleasures of nights like these is the opportunity to see stars associated with particular roles recreate their roles, sometimes bringing a new freshness to their interpretations of well-known numbers several years on. This was certainly the case with Lee Mead singing ‘Any Dream Will Do’ from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which he says put him on the map musically. Sophie Evans reprised her big number from The Wizard of Oz, ‘Over the Rainbow’, giving it suitable dramatic depth and pathos. Ben Forster also scored highly in several numbers from Jesus Christ Superstar which he played on a UK arena tour having won the role on television. Memphis star Matt Cardle reprised ‘Memphis Lives in Me’, and Kerry Ellis raised the roof with ‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked. The five stars benefited from the rich orchestral backing of the Novello Orchestra whose ranks surely exceeded the numbers of band members who would have been in those shows.
These are also nights for seeing potential in younger stars who still have many more roles to play. The ever-reliable Sophie Evans is vocally on top form in every number, from an exuberant ‘Good Morning Baltimore’ from Hairspray which opens the evening, to a show-stopping ‘Don't Rain on My Parade’ from Funny Girl. Evans is also an accomplished actress, turning up the drama for a thrilling ‘Last Night of the World’ from Miss Saigon with Lee Mead. Mead also showed a different side to his character with a scorching version of ‘Being Alive’ from Company before reprising ‘Hushaby Mountain’ from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which he headlined at the Centre in August.
Musical director David Mahoney presented some of the links along with the rest of the cast and the lack of a presenter didn't hinder the continuity of the albeit rather-brief evening. The first half was a little top-heavy with too many rock numbers, mostly from Kerry Ellis (We Will Rock You), Forster and Cardle. The longer, well-received second half features a greater variety of numbers including the inevitable Les Mis section, with Evans singing ‘On My Own’ and Cardle with ‘Bring Him Home’ – maybe future roles for them both. Audiences in London are in for a treat tomorrow night at the show transfers to the London Palladium for one night only.
One of the pleasures of nights like these is the opportunity to see stars associated with particular roles recreate their roles, sometimes bringing a new freshness to their interpretations of well-known numbers several years on. This was certainly the case with Lee Mead singing ‘Any Dream Will Do’ from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which he says put him on the map musically. Sophie Evans reprised her big number from The Wizard of Oz, ‘Over the Rainbow’, giving it suitable dramatic depth and pathos. Ben Forster also scored highly in several numbers from Jesus Christ Superstar which he played on a UK arena tour having won the role on television. Memphis star Matt Cardle reprised ‘Memphis Lives in Me’, and Kerry Ellis raised the roof with ‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked. The five stars benefited from the rich orchestral backing of the Novello Orchestra whose ranks surely exceeded the numbers of band members who would have been in those shows.
These are also nights for seeing potential in younger stars who still have many more roles to play. The ever-reliable Sophie Evans is vocally on top form in every number, from an exuberant ‘Good Morning Baltimore’ from Hairspray which opens the evening, to a show-stopping ‘Don't Rain on My Parade’ from Funny Girl. Evans is also an accomplished actress, turning up the drama for a thrilling ‘Last Night of the World’ from Miss Saigon with Lee Mead. Mead also showed a different side to his character with a scorching version of ‘Being Alive’ from Company before reprising ‘Hushaby Mountain’ from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which he headlined at the Centre in August.
Musical director David Mahoney presented some of the links along with the rest of the cast and the lack of a presenter didn't hinder the continuity of the albeit rather-brief evening. The first half was a little top-heavy with too many rock numbers, mostly from Kerry Ellis (We Will Rock You), Forster and Cardle. The longer, well-received second half features a greater variety of numbers including the inevitable Les Mis section, with Evans singing ‘On My Own’ and Cardle with ‘Bring Him Home’ – maybe future roles for them both. Audiences in London are in for a treat tomorrow night at the show transfers to the London Palladium for one night only.
