Dancing through a Revue

When I attended a run-through of MTSoc’s new production, Dancing Through Life, none of them suspected that I was in fact a theatre critic in disguise. This was probably because I occasionally make a somewhat convincing keyboard player. So convincing I’m actually playing in the show next week. None-the-less I had my critic’s hat on as I settled down to watch the performers for the first time.

Featuring a diverse range of songs from Tim Minchin, Wicked and even High School Musical, this was an ambitious project from the start. Made worse by the fact that most of the cast are freshers, most of the directors are new to directing, and most of the numbers have a completely different production team to the others. Would the show hold together, let alone hold up to previous productions?

They begin with the opening numbers from the critically acclaimed The Book of Mormon, which is just about to hit the West End. Back in March, MTSoc attempted to put on the whole musical with just 24 hours notice. Fortunately they have put more practice into the songs this time around and have even managed to synchronise the miming of pushing buttons with doorbell sounds – genius! If anything goes wrong, though, no doubt a certain keyboard player will be taken backstage and shot.

It has long been known to the average Imperial male that this term brings with it American girls. MTSoc have cottoned on and are now able to perform the fantastically energetic and girly “OMG You Guys!” from Legally Blonde: The Musical with fourteen, yes fourteen, females! This increased ratio has meant they have not needed to resort to gay kissing like last year. Talking of gay kissing, after spending the summer playing a character described as ‘James Dean in an old folks home’, veteran performer Phil Raymond must be feeling his age with so many fresh faces surrounding him. Fortunately, despite his advanced years, his Top G never fails to send shivers down my spine as he demonstrates in ‘El Tangode Roxanne’ from Moulin Rouge. Another personal highlight is listening to ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from Les Mis sung beautifully but without the compromise of having to spend four minutes looking at Susan Boyle’s face.

They suitably end on an emotional number from Ragtime featuring the whole cast. From this song it is easy to see how Alicia Kearns earned her nickname ‘Sassy F***’. Her silky smooth alto voice emphatically ends the show in style.

Last year’s successful revue show Charming only required a few lyric changes to make a believable story, but with such a random assortment of songs this year I was initially worried that MTSoc would attempt the same thing again. I struggled to think of a situation where Mormons and witches would go hand in hand but thankfully they have treated this year’s revue as a medley of musical theatre numbers rather than trying to force a contrived and tenuous story around them.

Seeing the incredible energy (and cheesy grins) of the new members makes me wish I had joined MTSoc back in my first year. It’s hard to see the fun these guys have on stage and not feel jealous! I am honoured that they have asked me back to play keyboards with them now I have graduated and look forward to sharing the limelight with them next week.

‘Dancing Through Life’ runs Monday 3rd – Wednesday 5th December in the Union Concert Hall. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 7:30pm. It is completely FREE and donations to ICU RAG Save the Children will be much appreciated.

Oh, and, look at the Centrefold in the paper...