What can you get for £29.50 in the world of musical theatre?
A ”cheap seat” at a West End show, a sweatshirt from the merchandise stand, or maybe a round of drinks at the (overpriced) bar?
Well, what if I told you that you could have a live concert performance by a stellar line up of West End stars that includes Rachel Tucker, Ben Forster, Lucie Jones and John Owen-Jones with Mazz Murray as a very special guest!
Bravo Productions are a small company, who come up with huge ideas – like “A Night at the Musicals”. For the princely sum of £29.50 they provide a superbly well organised (and Covid secure) outdoor concert featuring all of those star names, a huge live band (under the direction of Matt Pallant), a performance by an incredibly talented local newcomer and a massive firework finale!
Tonbridge Park in Kent is the venue and we all arrive in good time, as suggested in the comprehensive information pack supplied to all ticket holders. Our seating “bubbles” are clearly marked out on the grass and the park fills up quickly, but carefully, with people loaded down with chairs, tables, picnics and, as the sky is cloudy and dark grey, coats and umbrellas as well.
A short while before the concert begins, as we feared, the drizzle starts – but it is a relatively short shower and, before Rachel Tucker takes her place, centre stage, to open proceedings, coats are off again and umbrellas are being packed away.
Four of the West End superstars take it in turns to sing their opening numbers, each introducing the next singer in turn. Very quickly it is apparent that not only are Rachel, Ben, Lucie and John all very good friends, they are absolutely delighted to be back on stage… back home.
During the course of the two hour show we are treated to a whole array of amazing highlights. Lucie Jones, currently playing Fantine in Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre, gives us “I Dreamed a Dream”, followed by “She Used to be Mine” from the show that she is going to be touring with from September, Waitress.
Rachel Tucker is bathed in green light, which works just as effectively as make up, for a stunning rendition of “Defying Gravity” which she then tops with an incredibly emotive performance of “Me and the Sky”, from Come From Away.
Ben Forster returns to the role that he won in the Superstar TV programme, and amazes the totally silent crowd, with a breath-taking version of “Gethsemane”. He then goes on to perform “Waving Through a Window” from Dear Evan Hansen.
Ben then returns to another of his previous roles. The Phantom of the Opera, to perform “Music of the Night” – but he is joined by another former Phantom, John Owen-Jones and, together, they give the audience one of those unique and magical musical theatre moments that will be remembered forever, as they turn a stunning solo into an awesome, and at times surprisingly comical, duet.
The light is now fading fast as the familiar opening to “Bring Him Home” drifts across the park and John Owen-Jones prepares to deliver his signature song. He is also the solo opener for the song that becomes a full company, audience participation, song and dance finale – “From Now On” from The Greatest Showman.
I have two people left to mention. One is the winner of Bravo Productions “Search for a Star” competition. Kerry Ellis was the competition judge, picking her way through all the video entries (the competition had to be Covid secure as well) and her choice, making the most of his chance to join this amazing line-up, is a young man called Max Eade, who wows the audience with a very confident and powerful performance of “Anthem” from Chess.
And finally, our special guest, the superb Mazz Murray. Opening act two with a medley from We Will Rock You that includes “Another One Bites the Dust” and the title song, which she performs as a duet with Rachel Tucker, the leather jacket clad Mazz is far removed from the character she portrayed in act one.
As Donna Sheridan, her character in Mamma Mia (which reopens, with her, in August), Mazz provides the showstopper to end all showstoppers. “The Winner Takes It All” is such an incredible song but, given the Mazz Murray treatment, it becomes the ultimate torch song.
At the end of the show, as the sky lights up with a very impressive firework display, we thank the heavens for not opening on us, pack up our tables and chairs and take home wonderful memories, that we will treasure forever, of what has been a truly sensational musical theatre concert – and all for £29.50!
***** FIVE STARS!