Passport To Melody

DATE: 23rd August 2019

SOCIETY: SS Simon & Jude's A.D.S

VENUE: SS Simon &Jude Primary School

TYPE OF PRODUCTION: Concert

DIRECTOR: Mazine Crook

CHOREOGRAPHER: Megan Pimbley & Jennifer Dagnall

Report

Author: Liz Hume-Dawson

Passport to Melody is a musical trip through different countries. The director Maxine Crook has also written the linking script - a good device, adding fluidity. The story being that millionaire James Byron (David Crank) lives alone and wants to share his wealth.

So he comes up with a plan to have a fun day and hold a raffle, enabling people to visit a country of their choice.

Six countries are visited: Australia, Italy, Ireland, The Caribbean Islands, France and America, starting and ending in the UK. Passport to Melody is a frolic through countries with songs of origin and choreography by Megan Pimbley and Jennifer Dagnall.

Costumes by Stella Crank, Christine Wynn  and Julie Cunningham were very colourful and in keeping with each country. The screen projection on the back wall with holiday photographs of each country worked very well and aided the storytelling.

SSSJ always have a great community feel and inclusivity, you get the feel that everybody gets a chance to showcase their talent.

Everyone did really well and here are some of my highlights: My Way sung By Tony Meehan was not credited in the program was wonderful and for Fly Me to the Moon he was joined by Eddie Done and David Crank to make up the three crooners.

Xanadu sung by Jo Burton was fun and bright - you could not help but be swept along with Jo’s energy.

Panis Angelicus sung by Rachel Slater was beautifully interpreted and performed.

As Vanessa Dean-Boardman sang Sorrento Moon she really captured the essence of the song (I know this as her impressive singing style prompted me to seek out the original – which I didn’t know - and. . .wow! Well done, Vanessa!)

A real find was Emma Walsh who sang Beautiful and danced.

I have to say my favourite that blew me away was Je Ne Regrette Rien by Barbara Lewis - just a delight!

The cast looked like they were having fun which projected just the right feelgood factor through to the audience. This was a show involving all ages. I loved the Irish dance at the end of Act One and the finale Make Your Own Kind Of Music - both of which capitalised on this happy ensemble.

Well done to cast and crew and thank you for inviting me.