Ilkley Amateur Operatic Society

Through The Alphabet

Ilkley Playhouse

Thursday, October 24

A new venue and format for Ilkley Amateur Operatic Society's popular annual “Gala Evenings” proved advantageous to both the song and the dance elements of these popular occasions. The Playhouse's Wildman Studio is a small, flexible space that allowed the audience to be seated on three sides – almost close enough to touch the performers.

Twenty six musical numbers were taken from every letter of the alphabet beginning with the adults chorus in a lively rendition of You're Adorable. The juniors began with Chasing Cars, sung unaccompanied with great precision and tunefulness. The juniors' next unaccompanied number, I'm Yours, was even more rhythmically tricky and again delivered with razor-sharp precision and pitch. A very young and engaging Angus Lovell confidently projected King Herod's Song, with the dancers.

The adults meanwhile gave us a lively and rhythmic Don't Rain on My Parade, June is Bustin' Out, and the title song from Me and My Girl - the singers looked as though they were really enjoying themselves. New York! New York! afforded a vivacious dance routine with the dancers in their sequinned tails, top hats and tights.

Singers and dancers donned their cowboy hats for the Oklahoma Chorus; Pick a Bale of Cotton featured attractive harmony singing in an animated and energetic performance of this number. Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head included a spectacular tap dancing sequence devised by Katharine Oxley.

The lovely harmonies of Somewhere Over the Rainbow sung by the adults were a foretaste of the Society's March 2014 production of The Wizard of Oz at the King's Hall. Solos included Good Morning sung by Robert Warren and Miranda Armitage, Tell Me it's Not True sung by Margo Atkinson, and Varsity Drag with Tony Walker and the dancers.

The show ended with the entire company of adults and juniors delivering an energetic and colourful performance of Zip-a-dee-doo-dah. Musical direction was in the experienced hands of Judith Idle with polished instrumental backing on keyboards and percussion by Judith herself, plus musicians Jon and Carleton. Jo Walters was the artistic director and choreographer.