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West End Operatic Society presents
Copacabana
Newcastle
Tyne Theatre and Opera House
Until
Saturday 8th April 2017
Music by Barry Manilow
Lyrics by Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman
Book by Barry Manilow, Jack Feldman and
Bruce Sussman
Orchestrations by Andy Rumble
Director/choreographer: Sandra Laidler
Musical director: Steven Hood
‘Her name was
Lola, she was a showgirl’… Copacabana is a bright production about glamour and show
girls. The music by Barry Manilow captivates like a Radio 2 show, easy on the
ears but somewhat deceptively complex for the musicians to pull off.
The story features Stephen (Liam Gilbert), a present day aspiring
songwriter, who is in the midst of writing a tune telling the story of Lola
(Helen Cash) who arrives at a nightclub in New York, full of show-biz aspirations,
fresh off the plane from Tulsa. Tony (Liam Gilbert) is a
bartender/composer who falls in love with her and, along with Gladys (Emma
Scott), helps her become a Copa girl. Lola, of course, attracts the amorous
attentions of rival nightclub owner Rico (Simon Pinkney). When Rico goes a bit
too far by abducting Lola and taking her to his rival nightclub in Havana, Tony and the whole Copacabana
crew set off to rescue Lola!
The two principal characters are well played by Liam Gilbert and Helen
Cash. Their singing ability is consistently strong across the piece. Likewise
the support from Simon Pinkney, Leanne Harrison (as Conchita, a showgirl at
Rico’s club) and Emma Scott helped the show to flow.
Funnily enough, this musical was on tour in 2014 and was supposed to
come to the Tyne. We were all set up to see the show but
it had run out of steam before it landed in Newcastle. As a result tonight was the
first time that we’d seen this musical. Manilow’s songs are still fresh and our
music loving son wants to hear more for ideas for a piece he is currently
working on. Having said that, something tonight didn’t, in our opinion, quite
click in the right place. Perhaps it was too much to ask in order to turn a
single pop song into a 2 hour rags to riches tale? As musical choices go, it
isn’t one that we will be rushing back to see.
The
final scene was worth waiting for as the large ensemble sang and danced their
way through the Copacabana song itself. The costumes and lighting, plus enthusiastic
playing by the live band added to a fitting end to the evening.
Now
let’s see if I can find that song on Spotify for our son…
Review
by Stephen
Oliver.
Tickets:
West
End Operatic Society presents Copacabana at the Newcastle Tyne Theatre and
Opera House from Tuesday 4th – Saturday
8th April 2017. Evenings 7pm Matinees Thursday and
Saturday 2pm.
Tickets
are priced £8 - £18, groups buy 10 get 1 free (Plus booking fees when booking
online or over the phone)
Online
booking: http://tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk/events/west-end-operatic-society-presents-copacabana/
Tickets
can be bought in person from the theatre. The Tyne Theatre & Opera House is
open 10am-3.30pm Monday to Friday and
Event Days.
By
phone: 0844 2491 000
(calls
will cost 7 pence per minute plus your telephone company's access charge)
Tickets
subject to booking fee & charges apply when paying by debit/credit card. No
fees for cash payment at box office.
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