Braintree and Witham Times Review – Ron Fosker
Broadway Nights
Witham Amateur Operatic Society
Witham Public Hall
April 24
Revue was a chance to shine – and they did!
The advantage of doing a revue rather than a full length production is that it gives a society’s lesser lights a chance to shine. So it was with WAOS’s Broadway Nights. Artistes normally tucked away in the chorus found themselves, albeit briefly, centre stage. And they took full advantage.
Muriel Loveridge, for instance, stepped out of the shadows for the opening number of the evening and revealed a charming soprano voice which blended beautifully with Stewart Adkins’ cultured tones on “Wunderbar”. Angela Briley gave full rein to “I Enjoy Being a Girl”, while Anne Howe revealed a beautifully controlled contralto in “With One Look”. But it was the occasional touch of humour that was particularly well received. Pat Briggs, a society member of 41 years and singing for 70, hammed it up delightfully in “Indian Love Call” – and effortlessly hit the highest note of the evening.
And Anne Wilson and Danny Mullane offered a rendition of “You’re The One That I Want” that owed far more to the Hilda Baker/Arthur Mullard version than the by original John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
WAOS’s regulars did their bit too and they were joined by their junior partners, WOW. Fresh from their triumphant “Les Miserables” and, for most of them, school productions of “We Will Rock You” – when do they fit in their homework? – they once again showed their burgeoning talent.
Without a narrative thread, the show lacked some continuity, and there were one or two unwise choices but, overall, it enabled the society to show that it has got more stars than members probably realised. We look forward to seeing more of them in future.
