By Noelle Williamson
Chair of Bramley Parish Theatre Players Edward Turner “is on a mission to prove that recorders can sound good!”
On Sunday evening, the players from Bramley’s Class Act did Edward proud, opening the Bramley Community Arts Festival variety show at The Villagers.
Firstly, the Beginners/Juniors reprised excerpts from their terrific July show, Chicken Licken. They were delightful – full of confidence, even at just-turned-four – and having so much fun.
The Seniors/Advanced kids followed with excerpts from What Crime Is It, Mr Wolf? This courtroom drama with a twist was also terrific in July, with a wonderfully committed ensemble, and individual performances full of character, pathos and sass.
On Sunday night, the soloists were in fine voice and every single performer on the packed stage gave their all. The audience loved it.
Next up, the Daytime Choir gave us a programme of classic pop ballads and foot-tappers from the 60s and 70s. They pulled the audience in with the lovely blend and balance of their four-part harmonies, and set feet tapping at peppy numbers. The final singalong ABBA medleyfinished the set nicely..
Leeds Youth Opera, in tie-dye rainbow t-shirts, performed songs from their recent Seussical the Musical and gave us a preview of their next production – Matilda.
Bramley Parish Theatre Players closed the show with songs from musicals and a selection from last year’s Red Riding Hood and next year’s Puss in Boots.
This included a tongue-in-cheek D.I.S.C.O (number two in the charts in 1980, pop pickers!) with real life husband and wife Richard and Shelley Everson duetting; another duet – the Phantom of the Opera – in which Emma Smith’s vulnerability and Dean Patrick’s shameless menace were captivating and disquieting; and Yasmine Stevenson leading the ensemble and the audience in a stomping 500 Miles.
The evening had its ‘The show must go on!’ moment when aRed Riding Hood dancer had to drop out at the last minute, and choreographer Dean Patrick was the only one who could take her place. (Check the photos. He’s the one in the cap!) Consequently, he began his closing remarks with, “I’m jiggered!”
He thanked both performers and audience for being part of Bramley’s second Community Arts Festival, and appealed to us all to support and stay involved with community arts.
He also talked about the timing of next year’s festival. There are pros and cons to any date: last year it was held in July, when some people were on holiday. This year it was in September, when schools had only just gone back.
Once a weekend has been agreed, to suit most people, schools and groups, Bramley Community Arts Festival can become an annual fixture which people can plan for and commit to. And it will grow, and become established as a great Bramley tradition.
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