Harpenden Light Operatic Society played with a pretty straight, if colourful, bat in their compilation of songs from a variety of Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals. Lots of lighting but little directorial imagination in the pseudo nightclub setting left all in the hands, or throats, of the singers. Thankfully they combined to stirring effect a number of times to partially satisfy even this old curmudgeon. The title number, A Grand Night for Singing, and Some Enchanted Evening were particularly uplifting. Individually you picked over the romantically rich and varied puddings as your fancy took you. Chris Eagles and Pete Town stood out amongst the black costumed waiters and Liz Firmin ticked all my acting appreciation boxes. I shall ponder over those that displeased but they don’t include the excellent singing of Nova Horley or Brian Woods, or the splendid Mary Watkinson. Overall a mixed bag which rarely hit the theatrical heights, but carried with musical aplomb by the ever reliable Graham Thomson. You don’t get drawn in to this type of theatre but, if you go, you can hum along to those colourful dresses. In a bleak world that can’t be bad.
HLOS - A Grand Night for Singing
Runs to Saturday 31st March 2012 at Harpenden Hall (8.00pm).
Full review to follow
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