THE WOW SHOW

Weymouth Pavilion

SONGS from the shows – that is what the Youth Musical Theatre group bring to the stage for their latest production which celebrates music old and new with a cast of around 40 school age young people.

Full marks go to the production team under the leadership of director and choreographer Martyn Knight who has designed a show that gives every member of the cast a chance to shine and in which most of the songs are performed and danced by the full ensemble.

Starting with excerpts from the Greatest Showman and finishing with Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, a good proportion of the chosen songs in this production are not particularly memorable and to the young cast, they must have been completely unknown yet they sing and dance to them as if they are all old favourites, a remarkable achievement.

We are treated to some especially talented solo numbers from Alex Rogan, who was well cast as the greatest showman and Lilli Matthews Kenway giving serious style to Maybe This Time from Cabaret, just two artists from a great cast who all lit up the stage from start to finish.

Under the baton of musical director Sam Ryall, the half a dozen musicians filled the theatre with fully professional accompaniment throughout and if the vocalists’ volume is a little over the top at times, overall this is an emotionally charged show full of life and joy.

And unlikely though it seems, a show that combines Eurovision Song Contest material with hits by the Four Seasons and oldies like Camptown Races and Blue Skies somehow works well thanks to the dedication and effort of the young people and those who inspired and led them while elegant costumes add colour and character to the stage.

You can see the WOW Show tonight, tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow evening.

Wow will be back onstage next April when they bring Shrek the Musical to the Pavilion in what is bound to be a sell-out.