19 Feb 2024
Deborah Heath celebrates all that is great about the annual teen showcase…
They say variety is the spice of life and this year’s St Albans Gang Show proved this by celebrating not only diversity in their Scouting and Guiding cast, but their ability to plan, rehearse and deliver a fantastically varied revue show.
In the days of music hall, an audience could expect to see a series of “acts” ranging from magic, to bawdy songs and comic skits. The Gang Show always brings this formula into the 21st century by sandwiching large-cast popular music and dance medleys, with small group acts such as pun-based sketches to singing showcases. I was very impressed with the overall structure of the show – there was simply something for everyone and no time to get bored!
With approximately 100 young people performing, it must have been no mean feat organising a rehearsal schedule, let alone deciding on acts that would showcase all this young talent.
I take my hat off to producer Hermonie Drew and her creative team for balancing the programme so well. It is testament to the spirit of the Scouting movement that this show is completely run by volunteers from technicians, to the costume and prop team to front of house. All adults were there to give the kids this marvellous opportunity and it was touching to see.
I cannot possibly comment on every section of this show and would like to commend every single cast member for their performing skills and “have a go” attitude. The beautiful harmonising in ‘Go Your Own way’ was an early high point for me. Also in Act I, I loved the Cluedo-themed medley including Shaggy’s ‘It Wasn’t Me’ and Sophie Ellis-Bexter’s ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’.
The creative way in which songs had been connected via a theme throughout the show was impressive, although in this case it would have been even more brilliant to end with a song that told us who the murderer was! The set design here was outstanding as indeed it was for the rest of the show.
The bird medley opened Act II in a spectacular fashion. The costumes were not only bold, and bright but the manner in which the performers employed them during choreographed sections was breathtaking. The flamingo head-pieces on the dancers’ hands was a masterstroke, as were the fan peacock tails.
Last year, I felt there could be more comic songs and I was pleased to see at least three in this show. A comic song really highlights a singer’s diction skills – without them, the joke is lost. There was no such worry here as they were all expertly executed, for example in ‘Hats, Hats, Hats’. I was not alone in the audience in enjoying not only the IKEA song but the sketch leading up to it which was performed with great vocal clarity and comic timing.
The police station sketch which was crammed full of lovely puns was another highlight for me. A better resolution would have elevated it higher but it was still really enjoyable. Another audience favourite was the English Class scene, especially “I have a very small vocabulary” which was frequently repeated with an increasing laughter reward each time.
There weren’t many good things to come out of the musical ‘Grease 2’ and certainly the song ‘Reproduction’, although hilarious, would have been a tad inappropriate here, but I was glad to see ‘Who’s that Guy’ being used in a new way. Lanyard guy and his team of admiring Pink Ladies were very amusing.
Often overlooked, I cannot finish this review without praising the superb live band.
They turned their hands to everything from jazz to hip hop with skill and professionalism. I am still unclear as to whether the musicians were parents, leaders or friends of the Scouting community but they did a great job.
Going forward it would be even better to see musically gifted Scouts and Guides being given the opportunity to be in the band too. Singers were celebrated a lot in the show but showcasing young instrumentalists would have been the icing on the cake.
I enjoyed this show tremendously for its energy, jolliness, and imaginative programming. I am sure that if you were watching as part of the Scout and Guiding family, you would also feel the warmth of a great community which is completely based on goodwill.
What a marvellous experience this was for the young performers and I send out a big thank you to all who made it possible and a hearty pat on the back to the multi-talented and dynamic cast. Well done!
All photos by Roger Morton.
