Community performers Triple Threat Theatre make musical debut with their Favourite Things
Triple Threat Theatre: Our Favourite Things
at The Haymarket, Basingstoke
on Saturday, November 16
Review by ALISON DEWAR
Triple Threat Theatre scooped highly-deserved audience reactions of ‘wonderful’, ‘brilliant’ and ‘fabulous’ with their first celebratory evening of musical theatre. They made it easy to imagine having prime seats on Broadway or being in the grip of the most poignant and dramatic theatre of any UK stage. Cast, orchestra and crew excelled with 25 numbers from 25 shows - ably demonstrating the range and value of musical theatre.
As befits a ‘triple threat’ theatrical concert, great singing from the cast of 12 was enhanced with superb acting and fluid choreography. Under atmospheric lighting, they brought life to characters and events from familiar musicals, through themes of love, anger, joy, difference and sadness. Sharing the stage’s limelight, music from the 18-piece orchestra mirrored these emotions, providing a splendid array of treats for ear, eye and heart.
Notably, all the performers acted through their songs, especially important when performed out of context. Excerpts from The Rocky Horror Show (Stuart Hayllor) and Guys and Dolls (Laura Newborough), for example, were full of dramatic nuances. Similarly, Laura Thain’s and Pete Warbis’ interpretations of ‘Rose’s Turn’ and ‘Gethsemane’ from Gypsy and Jesus Christ Superstar respectively were show-stopping and spine-tingling delights. Sustained high notes soared in pieces such as ‘Corner of the Sky’ (Alex Hutson) and ‘Music of the Night’ (Joseph Nelhams). This selection isn’t to favour any performer but to give a flavour of the talent of this remarkable ensemble. A longer review, with full details of all the singers, shows and songs, is on the website www.triplethreattheatre.uk.
Triple Threat Theatre promise plenty more. New in 2021 (and already firmly-established), this community performance and training company hails from Basingstoke, through the founding partnership and vision of Trevor Defferd from Newbury and Nick Brannam. They aim to inspire through teaching in performance arts - and have seen their not-for-profit company grow through individual and ensemble tuition, workshops on favourite musicals and now this magical stage display with its selected ensemble of highly skilled performers. A tour de force that will live long in the memory.
Cast: Abi Burrows, Stuart Hayllor, Alex Hutson, Ben Kennedy, Amelia May, Joseph Nelhams, Laura Newborough, Diana Sankey, Eronwy Selwyn, Ryan Stevens, Laura Thain, Pete Warbis. Director: Nick Brannam. Musical director: Trevor Defferd.
