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Rock Nativity
Failand Drama Circle
Failand Village Hall
Failand
Thursday 24th November 2016
I’m never sure about Christmassy shows in November: am I ready for all that with a month still to go? ‘Bah, Humbug!’ leaps to my grumpy mind. Well, as it happened I received some great personal news on the same day as attending Failand’s show so was in a splendid mood to absorb some festive cheer and having been warmly welcomed to the venue and shown to an excellent seat I was ready for the Story of all Stories.
David Wood’s book and lyrics, supported by music from Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent (names from the seventies if ever there were) is a gentle retelling of the nativity story, gently amusing and never one to set the world on fire with controversy or challenging content. The music is pleasant enough and offers a Musical Director plenty of opportunity for harmony and interesting arrangements. It was a good choice for Failand Drama Circle with their wide range of ages and experience on the stage: the story is, of course well known and the staging/costume requirements are very flexible.
Director Steve Gregory had chosen a very simple design: a clear stage featuring a raised, white section at the centre, attractively outlined in LED lights, a starcloth covering the cyclorama. Modern-day dress had been chosen, managed by Sheila Eastwood and all looked well presented and attractive. Hair and make-up (no credit shown in the program) were also well presented. In a relatively small venue like the village hall lights do not need to be extensive and similarly make-up can be toned-down slightly from that which might be seen in a larger venue. Everyone looked healthy and human – never a bad thing!
Technically this was a well-run show: Lighting, from a simple rig was tidily managed to a simple plot – all of the action could be clearly seen and suitable emphases were neatly made. Some good follow-spot work was also evident. Sound too, particularly for a smaller venue, was excellent: many head-mics were very well cued and managed- something of a dark art in itself. We could hear every word (and no swearing or off-stage conversations as mics were inadvertently left ‘up’!).The Sound and Light team of Philip Carr, Matthew Hicken, Mark Jones, Neil Russell, James Ham, Ed Brown and Matt Gregory should be proud of their efforts. Stage Management, care of Dave Thompson was neatly and quietly effective, transitions being neatly delivered to allow a smooth ‘flow’ to the show.
Musical Director Sue Parker, always a ‘safe pair of hands’, delivered her usual, high quality offering. The small band of Hal Morris on drums, Tony Parker on guitar and Sue Hoskins on bass supported the MD’s keyboard work to perfection: great support for the singing and action on stage. Always well balanced, well timed and with great musicality they were a pleasure to hear. I’m sure Sue would have worked with the singers, some experienced and some less so, to produce a good, full sound. Some nice harmony in the Ensemble number like Open Your Heart and good, confident delivery from the soloists. A job well done.
The show opened with some very strong singing from Lucy Twigger as the Eveangelist and later as Simeon. Lucy has a lovely singing voice and good presence which was evident whenever she was on the stage. We quickly met Eloise Twyford and Stuart Todd as Mary and Joseph. Both looked the part, I must admit, as a total baldie to having huge hair envy for Eloise’s gorgeous hair. Both sang and acted confidently. I was particularly struck by a few subtle hand gestures made by Eloise, holding her ‘pregnant’ bump and giving it and occasional rub: the naturalness of these gestures was very effective in making her ‘condition’ entirely believable.
Paula Snell as The Angel Gabriel made a great entrance and looked splendid in white tuxedo, white trousers and a sparkling, silver scarf. A pair of sunglasses might have given us the full ‘Honey G’ so a great decision to eschew them. Paula’s presence was suitably awesome and she held the stage very well. King Herod, played by Barry Wiles was a stand-out performance for me: full of menace and nastiness but never straying into pantomime villain territory, his enunciation and timbre were superb and boy, can he deliver a song. Kay Hicken had the unenviable task of playing Herod’s Secretary which she did with suitable deference whilst maintaining a dignified presence.
I have rarely seen such a good-looking group of Wise Men as Angela Dayness, Ruth Bragg and Jasmine Pearce presented as Caspar, Balthazar and Melchior. I liked the white lab coats but wondered why all three didn’t wear glasses and why one sometimes did? Their singing and dancing worked well and certainly looked the part.
I particularly enjoyed The Shepherds: Alistair Carr as Daw, Becca Snell as John and Oscar Jones as Gib. I saw some good singing from these three plus, remarkably for a group so young, some excellent comic timing. Roman Soldiers Philip Carr and Brian Nathan, Innkeeper Brian Nathan and Inkeeper’s Wife Janet Morris all gave good, characterful performances too.
This was a very enjoyable show to watch: charming and heartwarming, its very naivety being one of its strengths. The Company; Debbie Harris, Steve Gregory, Leanne Gregory, Daisy Hicken and Calum Bonner all gave great energy and looked to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. Plus, probably my favourite part, The Sheep: Imogen, Mia, Evie, Helena, Katie, Tilly, Poppy, Ava, Brooke, Natasha, Daniella and Allanah- lovely!
As a run-up-to-Christmas event Rock Nativity was a real pleasure. Was it the strongest show I have ever seen, the best singing I have ever heard, the best dancing I have ever witnessed? It doesn’t matter one iota. Your audience loved it (such a shame there were so few of them – folks just don’t know what they are missing!) and from the looks on the faces of the performers you loved it too. Not much more matters: your hard work has been worth it and I, for one am now well and truly full of the Christmas Spirit (and its still November!).
Thank you for inviting me
Ian