Waiting in the Wings With West End Stars – A Musical Christmas
Newcastle Civic Centre – 15th December 2024
Invited| Review by Stephen Stokoe
On Sunday last, I was certainly feeling the festive spirit as I attended Tyne Audio Ltd and West End Prep as they presented an all new holiday incarnation of Waiting in the Wings with West End Stars. These remarkable star studded cabaret extravaganzas started way back in 2021 when lockdowns were a thing and we all needed some quality entertainment at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have returned several times and in various guises but tonight was the first time that the theme was around Christmas and what it means to us all.
The stage was beautifully decorated (Jonathan Mellor) with lighting designed and operated by Darren Lowe. I particularly liked the simplistic yet intricately lit design suggesting Christmas trees which flickered, flowed and flashed depending of the feel of the number they were accompanying.
Speaking of accompaniment, the cast of this heart warming production were joined on the stage by a band of six, including Musical Director Amy Mellor, Andrew Soulsby on Keys 2, Sophie Purvis on drums, Stu Davies thumping out the bass and Alex Young on guitar. I have missed one out and I will get back to Keys 1 a little later.
To start the evening we saw the ensemble take to the stage. First the youth choir gathered looking resplendent in their colour co-ordinated outfits and each cheered onto the stage by their parents and grandparents in the audience. Next arrived the ‘Wings Ensemble’. This ensemble was made up of 8 north east based Students who are all training in London drama schools which consisted of Dominic Birtley, Billy Phillips, Elliot Stiff and Aidan Stuart, Emma Egan, Jess Gibson, Becca Linden and Katie Storey. As a gentlemen pointed out enthusiastically during the interval ‘Eeeh, there’s some talent on that stage tonight’ – I could not agree more, sir, and that is even before we get to the titular and stellar West End Stars.
The whole company opened with Christmas in New York which put everyone into the festive mood before The Wings Ensemble delighted with Snow and Count Your Blessings. It was a joy to see these young up and coming artists looking so confident both individually and with each other.
The highlight of the half, for me, was the Youth Choir and Ensemble with their medley of music from the score of The Polar Express. Musical Director, Amy Mellor, has clearly had them all working incredibly hard because it was wonderful to watch these youngsters not just singing but to be so confident that they can relax and enjoy the story they are telling through their songs.
Completing the line up for act one, was, of course the West End Stars Zizi Strallen (Mary Poppins, Cats) Jenna Boyd (Something Rotten, Come From Away) Kris Manuel (Mary Poppins, The Phantom of the Opera) Tom Sterling (Barnum, Carousel) and Bryony Louis Duncan (Les Misérables, Six – The Musical) who took us on wings of festive musical song. Kris’s heartfelt rendition of A Christmas of Our Own was a particular highlight as he anecdotally recalled his first Christmas alone with husband Mark during lockdown seguing beautifully into the history of Waiting in the Wings with West End Stars.
The second half had a particularly jolly feel to it opening as it did with a jazzed up Jingle Bells belted out with some fun by Tom and the girls of the Wing Ensemble. There was an element of fun as Kris donned a tutu to become a fairy – and accompanied by the boys of the Wings Ensemble performed the now traditional pantomime set piece of The Twelve Days of Christmas with mayhem and many out of breath performers.
Jenna Boyd never ceases to raise a smile at these productions. She just oozes a friendly, natural charm with more than an element of impishness about her which she used in spades in her rendition of her Simple Christmas Wish.
The West End Stars never fail to put something in which has the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end and this year it was Zizi, Jenna and Kris with their simply wonderful performance of In The Bleak Midwinter and A Winter’s Tale – two of my most favourite festive songs and many thanks to you for reminding me of the David Essex classic which I will include in my festive Christmas radio show this weekend. I shall dedicate it to this evening because you guys really nailed that one.
The kids were allowed to take centre stage for the final time with the quite delightful Wassailing Mice before the audience were brought into the action to join the stars – past, present and yet to come with a rousing chorus of White Christmas.
I have not forgotten about Keys 1 because he is getting my star of the performance. In a positive galaxy of stellar performance, Jack Elsdon was living his best life on the keyboard behind the artists. His versatility shone through the many genres of music this evening and he never lost focus either of Musical Director Amy, or, when necessary the artist he was accompanying. Take a bow, Jack.
Under the skilled directorship of Mark Hedges, the musical direction of Amy Mellor, the huge array of talent really glittered like a Christmas bauble, shone like the stars they are, and the whole production of cast, crew, creatives and musicians should be very proud indeed for bringing a festive treat this evening. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.