The Lyric Theatre Singers are one extraordinary group. There is a reason
why their annual concerts at the Oscar Peterson Hall in NDG always sell out and
end with standing ovations. This fine oiled local machine is bursting with
local talent as was abundantly clear in their 2013 performances of Hallelujah
Broadway. It featured the unforgettable
compositions of George Gershwin that
inspired the hit show Crazy For You,
the hauntingly beautiful melodies of Kismet
and Phantom’s triumphant Masquerade, to selections from Anything Goes, Once on this Island, Cabaret,
Titanic, Spamalot, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Book
of Mormon and more. With Bob Bachelor as musical director and
the multi-talented young Chris Barillaro as his new assistant musical director
this show is in good hands.
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| Chris Barillaro |
A
cast of over 40 performers took to the stage for this high-energy musical
revue! This show had a little bit of everything. There were nice costumes, a
terrific musical team and even some funny skits. Barillaro was very much part
of the show, conducting, playing keyboard and taking center stage as a singer
in several numbers. The show began some interaction between performers Linda
Cregan and Laurie-Anne Jean Baptiste, one speaking in English and the other in
French; Cregan on her cell phone and Baptiste trying to get her attention. It
got a few laughs and probably loosened the audience up.
A
medley from Crazy for You had high energy, followed by Lady’s Maid from
Titanic, More I Cannot Wish You from Guys & Dolls and an entertaining
rendition of Book Report from You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Don’t Tell Mama
from Cabaret followed and then Patrick Bernard delighted the crowd with a
beautiful French song, Quand on a que l’amour from Jacques Brel is Alive and
Well and Living in Paris. We Dance from Once On This Island preceded a medley
from Kismet, a 1953 musical which follows the remarkable and repeated
changes of fortune that engulf a poor poet. Barillaro was outstanding in the
lead of Run Freedom Run from Urinetown, which closed out the first act with a
bang.
Following intermission, Hello from Book of Mormon started
things off with the 10 male performers really knocking this out of the park and
generating a lot of laughs. You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To (Something to
Shout About) and On A Clear Day You Can See Forever led into a very well presentation
of Hey There Single Gal/Guy from I Love You, You’re Perfect). This represented
the most acting all night as Dan Derkson and Nancy Stuart played dad and mom to
Tam Lam Truong as their son and Sara Sousmilllion as the woman they hoped to
become their daughter-in-law. But things do no turn out that way. Barillaro stepped up again for Sante Fe from
Newsies. Then came one of the show’s true highlights – the entire cast in
costume for Masquerade from Phantom of the Opera. It’s Hot Up There (Sunday in the Park With
George), a Bachelor solo called Love Look Away (Flower Drum Song), In Our Hands
(Smile), Anything Goes (Anything Goes), The Song That Goes Like This (Spamalot)
and a grand Medley from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
rounded things out. In fact, Bachelor brought everyone back for an encore and a
number from the Wizard of Oz.
It
takes a lot of dedication to be part of the Lyric Theatre. Rehearsals began six
months in advance of the show and became really intent in the week leading up
to the four presentations. Armed with some reliable corporate sponsors and
extraordinary administrative and technical team headed by the dynamic Louise
Dorais, Lyric remains a true success story. Kudos also goes out to
choreographer Mary Sarli, rehearsal
pianist Linda Laroche and VIA Rail Canada for raffling off a return trip for two in
first class between Montreal and Vancouver and return trips for two in business
class in the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor.
For
more information about Lyric Theatre, log on to www.lyrictheatrecompany.com.
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