Review: THE MAGIC OF ANIMATION: HEROES & VILLAINS, Cadogan Hall
Chorus Productions, the brainchild of Rob Houchen, Anita Houchen, Matt Lucas and Tom Callister who created the West End Does brand, presented their third celebration of the music from animated films (the first two in 2018 and 2019). This time, they focussed on the heroes and villains of the tales as old as time!
It was a wonderful musical afternoon at the Cadogan Hall in the very smart Chelsea and Kensington borough of London. It was a delight to see some very big West End stars, combined with a chorus of sixteen students and a small dance group of six from the Guildford School of Acting, the West End Musical Choir (a group of over sixty singers that requires no audition but is conducted by a professional MD), and a fabulous sounding band of nine. This combination of amateur, training and professionals creates a wonderful showcase and experience for the talent and plenty of entertainment for the audience.
The programme also showcases the rich range and diversity of the music of Disney Animation, featuring fifteen different films, in a lovely selection of 25 songs. We may not have known some of the individual songs, although the films titles may be familiar, but each tune was beautifully sung and richly played by the talented cast.
Simon Lipkin acted as host and although he did not sing, presumably resting his voice for his current brilliant role as Fagin in Oliver! at the Gielgud Theatre, he was brilliant in showing off his alternative persona as a magician with three fabulous amusing mind reading tricks with the audience, which he delivered with great skill, charm and humour. We could have watched more of him, although he could have compered the show to tell which hero or villain was at the centre of each song.
Rob Madge, too, was a complete delight in high heels and feather boa sleeves. They are, of course, soon to be seen as the MC in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, but they have established a unique stage presence and delivery style which naturally engages and charms audiences. They opened the show with a gorgeous rendition of ‘The Bells of Notre Dame’ (from the 1996 film Hunchback of Notre Dame with music by Alan Menken) and closed the show joyously in a duet with Alistair Brammer with the Toy Story hit ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me’ (written by Randy Newman). In between, they delivered an amusing ‘Mother Knows Best’ (from Tangled, written by Menken with Glenn Slater), and ‘Be Prepared’ (from The Lion King written by Elton John and Tim Rice).
Leesa Tulley, most recently seen in the new musical Why Am I So Single?, also gave us four songs. ‘Once Upon a December (Anastasia), a duet with David Hunter performing ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (written by Menken and Ashman), the wonderfully upbeat ‘Holding Out for a Hero’ (from Shrek 2 written by Pitchford and Steinman), and a mash up of songs from Snow White, Moana and Frozen with Rachel John and Rob Houchen.
Houchen himself regularly appeared, singing ‘Son of Man’ from Tarzan (written by Phil Collins), ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ from The Little Mermaid (by Howard Ashman) and his best number: ‘In the Dark of the Night’ from Anastasia, describing the villainous Rasputin’s plans. Sharlene Hector (who will soon appear as Muse, Clio, in the stage show of Hercules) also made a big impression with renditions of ‘Strangers Like Me’ (Tarzan), ‘When You Believe’ (The Prince of Egypt) with Rachel John, who joined her to open Act 2 with ‘Zero to Hero’ (Hercules) with two of the GSA choir, and ‘Almost There’ from The Princess and The Frog. Hector’s powerful soulful voice certainly encouraged us to book for Hercules!
Others contributed big show highlights including the magnificent John Ellis with his deep operatic voice that resonated so well in ‘Through Heaven’s Eyes’ from The Prince of Egypt (music by Hans Zimmer)'; David Hunter was excellent in ‘Cruella De Vil’, from 101 Dalmatians and charming in ‘Accidentally in Love’ accompanying himself on guitar; Alistair Brammer was powerful in ‘Out There’ from The Hunchback from Notre Dame and delightful in the ‘Bare Necessities’ from The Jungle Book; and Rachel John sang ‘Colours of the Wind’ (from Pocahontas) beautifully.
With so many fabulous West End stars on show, the choirs might have been lost but both did well during their moments. The huge West End Musical Choir produced a lovely choral sound in ‘See the Light’ and the GSA students were outstanding in ‘The Mob Song’, the dramatic intimidating march to the Beast in Beauty and the Beast. It was a lovely footnote to for the song to be sung in tribute to their choir director, Peter Roberts, who we heard had taught a thirteen-year-old Simon Lipkin. Each member of the GSA choir had their moment in ‘Go the Distance’ from Hercules. The producers are to be congratulated and encouraged to build on this wonderful collaboration with established stars and young people new to the industry which worked so well in this show.
This was simply a joyous, glorious celebration of the music from Disney animations, highlighting the quality of the composers and lyricists that they have worked with (surely a vital part of their musical successes) and showcasing West End talent and those new to the stage. The marvellous band produced a rich sound behind each song. It’s a format that deserves repeating and promoting as we are sure if more people knew of its quality and with more frequent shows, audiences would love these events. The next appears to be in December with a Christmas concert at the same venue and with the same support from the stars, it is sure to be a wonderful event.
**** Five stars
Reviewed by: Nick Wayne
