The Thursford Christmas Spectacular actually is a one-of-a-kind present. The nearest comparability is to the Andre Rieu live shows, besides Thursford makes Rieu look uninteresting by comparability. And in case you’ve ever seen a Rieu live performance you’ll know that takes some doing! Some might discover the considerably enforced jollity of a Rieu live performance cloying, however at Thursford the entire present is wrapped up in such a glowing expertise proper from the second you enter the location – music enjoying by the fairy-lit bushes and Dickensian-dressed characters providing a heat welcome – that you just’d be onerous pushed to take care of any Scrooge-like sensibilities by the point the present itself begins.
The high quality is clear in each facet of the present. It’s primarily old style selection present. And in case you’ve not seen a kind of just lately chances are you’ll, maybe, have seen one thing comparable on a cruise ship. Some of this present’s performers have expertise acting on cruise ships and whereas this can be a comparable kind of factor, the dimensions is epic. Tiller lady fashion high-kicking dance routines, precision marching to ’76 trombones’, West End showstoppers from Half a Sixpence, Mary Poppins and Hairspray and way more. Returning as host is Kev Orkian, performing that uncommon trick of being humorous for an viewers that, largely, haven’t come to see him. He’s additionally a gifted musical expertise, doing a little intelligent and witty musical parodies.
The orchestra/band is giant and versatile. Their Dixieland-style model of Maria Carey’s All I Want for Christmas was impressed. Whilst Hairspray’s You Can’t Stop the Beat was highly effective and vibrant. My solely quibble is that this quantity, when taken out of the context of its unique present, fails to make the purpose it’s written for – particularly about racial integration. Similarly, Everything’s Coming Up Roses, from Gypsy, is on one degree an incredible Broadway commonplace. In context, as Ethel Merman biographer Brian Kellow notes, “It’s a chilling illustration of blind ambition blended with megalomania.”Â
Amidst all of the spectacle there’s a delightfully witty and splendidly English comedy music complaining in regards to the Church Of England. I’d in some way missed out on the gem that’s Mrs Beamish and on checking (there’s no programme credit score for any composers or lyricists – a disgrace) I see it’s by Richard Stilgoe and Peter Skellern. Joyous.This was solely my second ever Thursford expertise and I used to be notably impressed that, a number of conventional components apart, it appeared to me a completely new manufacturing. Yes, the essence and the format stay the identical, however costumes, choreography, music – even Ken Orkian’s jokes – have been all new for this yr. I believe I’m all Christmassed-out for this yr now!
Review by John Charles
Seat: Stalls N10 | Price of ticket: £45