The Stratford Singers presented their lively production of Hooked On A Feeling at the Eltham Town Hall last weekend. And what a 'feeling' it was, for both the audience and cast.
The show was an extravaganza of music and entertainment, all performed to the accompaniment of a highly professional live band. The band also performed solos featuring Terry Fell, It Never Rains In Southern California, Peter Hokopaura with Valerie, John Weir with the Rod Stewart number I Don't Want To Talk About It, and John also performed End of The Line from the Traveling Wilburys (with the odd additional lyric about a Holden car).
Claudia Bluett a pianist who accompanied the choir on the night, showed her musical capabilities along with the band members, for an impromptu appearance with a pair of maracas, much to the delight of the audience.
A variety of songs from the well rehearsed choir, five men and 20 women, were performed well under the capable baton of musical director Peter Copeland. With enthusiasm and vitality the choir sang Beatles songs, Mamas and the Papas numbers, a Motown melody, and a toe-tapping Beach Boys segment. There was a short ukulele segment which gave the audience some toe-tapping momentum with I'm Into Something Good.
Perhaps consideration for showing lines two, three and four in the choir to the audience could also be considered sometime, as it's nice to see all the talent on show, not just the front row all the time.
Sister Fusion, a group of four female singers, with lead singer Rebecca Fox, performed two polished items on the night as well.
Sheba Turner delighted in a duet with Mickie Mills singing, I Know Him So Well, from the musical Chess, before Sheba performed the Abba hit, I Have a Dream, with clarity and feeling.
Solos in the Johnny Cash Country style were performed by seasoned compere Bryan Vickery.
The inclusion of Hayley Old's inspirational Dance Project with their energetic and immaculate routines gave youth and variety to this successful production.
Lighting, sound and costumes all played an important part in giving the Stratford Singers a rapport with the audience. This was exemplified the final segment with the Beegees' Staying Alive and Flash Dance numbers, which were staged before the final rendition of Hooked On A Feeling.
Thank you, Jennie Cameron. Your production of some very enjoyable entertainment gave us the Hooked On Feeling it deserved.
Review provided by Richard Kennedy-Moffat. Richard is author of the award-winning play Bard, a dramatisation of the life and works of Robert Burns, and has written many reviews for a wide range of shows and plays in Taranaki over the years. He received no payment for this review and attended the show at his own cost.