ACT Reviews 2022-2023 Season

kept the audience entertained and led the song sheet section excellently. This was an alternative 12 days of Christmas but had us all joining in the singing, bringing the house down, or in this case the curtain, quite literally. This was an excellent performance and, although very physical, was conducted with ease and confidence. The set was colourful, functional and Jack’s growing stalk, designed by Brenda Starkey, was sight to behold. There was good accompaniment by Scott Trutter, to the songs that were on the whole known with revised lyrics by the director and Anthony Freeman, to suit the occasion. These tended to be very up-tempo that kept the party going. Many were accompanied by dance sections, choreographed by Sue Bradbury, that included comedy roller skating and the opening of Act 2 was mesmerising and especially effective with the use of backlighting which emphasised the picture and speed of movement. I did reflect that the end of both acts would have been enhanced by encouraging the audience onto their feet and joining in with the ‘Time Warp’ and Abba sequence. The sound and lighting by Martin Webber and Ste Oliver-Grant were pretty much spot on in timing and effect. The outstanding bit of technology was the phone-a-friend section towards the end. Singling out one audience member and linking their phone to a screen while ringing a friend to solve a riddle. This, on this occasion, worked wonderfully and had the audience enthralled and joining in the puzzle solving. The comments from the adults around me at the end of the evening were very complimentary. This was a few hours where we could all indulge in carefree, adult humour and release the child within us. all which left us cock-a-hoop! Did we all have fun? “Oh, yes we *&^%$£”- did!”