Tuesday, 29 October 2013

Strictly Musicals by Darlington Operatic Society - Super Heroes

noun; alter ego - a person's secondary or alternative personality


Look back through history and very best super heroes all had alter egos - Clark Kent was Superman, Peter Parker was Spiderman, Diana Prince was Wonder Woman and Eric Wimp was Bananaman. In Strictly Musicals we are treated to performances from some of the society's young superheroes and get to glimpse both sides of their performing personae.

Mark Lamb, in his first DarlingtonOS performance provides the gritty and menacing opening to "Tonight" from West Side Story - explaining that "the Jets are gonna have their day, tonight" he is totally believable as a gang leader ready to tear up the town.  Coping admirably with the difficulty of this piece (this song is notable for its prominent perfect fourth intervals and pentatonic scale) Mark gives a stirring demonstration of the concentration needed to maintain his piece in a 5 way ensemble.  Flip that to his duet with the delightful and perfectly cast Hannah Lambell in Disney's "Can you feel the love tonight" and we see Mark's alter ego - soft & smooth harmonies and a vulnerability which draws on the audience heartstrings.

Another couple who too have "split personalities" are Chloe Dargue and Jason Slater.  Chloe might be a little bundle of energy and fun, but she fills the stage with presence and draws eyes towards her regardless of the part she is playing.  In Matilda she is the epitome of a 5 year old girl; pouting, sassy, stroppy and desperate to be older than she is (and with two daughters of my own boy do I remember what 5 year old girls are like).   Likewise in the Disney medley Chloe bounces round the stage with youthful exuberance which has only gotten more with each show.  Exit stage left innocent Chloe and enter stage right sexy, sultry and slightly dangerous Chloe.  As a dancer she has moves that are hypnotic and hips that could give you whiplash.

Jason has the unique position in the show of becoming just what he is looking for - in the Rogers & Hammerstein medley he bemoans the lack of 'dames' in his deep rich baritone voice (which is like molten chocolate) as the guys collectively extol their virtues 'South Pacific' style.   In the Disney montage he takes a step further and is encouraged by the gang to "Kiss the Girl".  By the time the Hairspray finale comes alive he has obviously decided the best way to get a girl is to become one - as Edna Turnblad he gives a hilarious glimpse into his Christmas ham loving, "I don't give a damn" mama.

Continuing with the 'second selfs', Zoe Kent proves that strong acting is required just as much as singing for musical theatre.  In the Cell Block Tango she has all the sinister woman-scorned anger you'd expect from a murderess but keeps it bubbling just under the surface, making it all the more threatening.  Then, mid way through the second act she joins with Debbie Barrigan and Samantha Morrison as Alex, Jane & Sukie in the soul-searching, childhood reminiscing "I Wish I May" with some of the most moving harmonies in musical theatre.

Our final pair of dichotomic duals are Ben Connor and Zoe Birkbeck.  Ben has a wonderful comedic quality which he delivers perfectly as Will Parker, explaining that 'Everything's up to date in Kansas City' in a real Mid-American twang (especially when praising the new fangled ray-dee-ay-tors).  Zoe is a true Gemini, twins in one person - in Matilda she sings with a childlike voice (reminiscent of Bonnie Langford as Violet Elizabeth Bott-sorry, that's showing my age) full of attitude and stubbornness , but when she and Ben join together for 'Solo Saxophone' from Miss Saigon the hairs stand up, the goose pimples rise and the heart beats faster - the chemistry is almost palpable and you can hear the audience holding their collective breath.  She is a brilliant example of everything that is great about DarlingtonOS - an obvious enjoyment of performing, a genuine love for the audience and a smile that lights up the stage wherever she stands.

So, whilst there are almost 50 stars on stage through each performance of Strictly Musicals, there are really over 100 star performances.  How lucky we are !

Strictly Musicals comes to a close tomorrow night - Saturday 2nd November - but there are still a few tickets left - call the ticket hotline on 01325 486555.

ALSO - For One Night Only - Darlington Operatic Society will perform Strictly Musicals for the Mayor's Gala - Saturday January 18th 2014 at the wonderful Darlington Civic Theatre.  Tickets available from the Box Office or via 01325 486555.


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