News feed

Review

A Festive Music Hall & Palace of Varieties, Unison Theatrical Choir, West Moors Village Hall

CHRISTMAS and Music Hall make good bedfellows, and this seasonal offering certainly put me in the mood for the forthcoming festivities.

Red-covered tables, each boasting a candle, provided an immediate feeling of warmth that was a welcome contrast to the chilly night outside, and interval cakes and hot punch, served by the ‘staff’ in the manner of the old Lyons Corner Houses or Cadena Cafes, added even more to the occasion.

And the entertainment itself worked extremely well. Beautifully costumed, it was a cross between a Music Hall, a Victorian country house party and a more modern gathering, and a Christmas tree and a decorated fireplace complete with glowing fire set the scene perfectly.

Ian Clark proved a good choice as Chairman, imploring an initially reluctant audience to boo, hiss, cheer and applaud – which they soon did with gusto.

Carols, melodrama, humour, Christmas songs and, of course, Music Hall standards, blended splendidly, with the company clearly relishing the chance to show that they are as much ‘theatrical’ as ‘choir’.

Well, how many choirs do you know whose members are prepared to dress as Christmas trees, robins or scruffy school-children? No, I thought not. I rest my case.

Linda Kirkman

return to review index