NODA Review: Left of Centre Stage
General
A revue with a difference this was a very interesting idea which worked well. A large cast of very talented
energetic individuals sang and danced their way through some quite off beat and sometimes rewritten songs
avoiding the usual recognisable standards.
Celebrating 50 years in amateur theatre this year has been a bumper one for Centre Stage with variety and
innovation at the heart of its approach which has delighted those lucky enough to get a ticket. Long may it
continue.
Players
The opening song was L’Alexander Miseramilton which presented us with a spoof Les Mis style performance
with the whole cast opening proceeding with a bang and gave us a real taste of what was to come Dan
Saunders (Javert), Jez Roberts (Enjolras), Chris Cahill (Marius), Annie Watson (Fantine), Chris Watson
(Thenardier), Skyla Loureda (Eponine), Corin Miller (Madame Thenardier), Inti Conde (Jean Valjean) all gave
featured performances in this lively and striking routine.
Little Bar on Sullivan Street with Chris Foxwell, Laura Ellis, Penny Rodie, and Jez Roberts as two “couples” in a
bar was a well observed piece that worked well.
How About You, featured Chris Watson, and Annie Watson as two people who had been a couple meeting
again and skirting around each other. Given that they are in fact married this made it a very interesting piece
of social observation.
The Boy band song Single with five males performers doing a boy band performed by Jez Roberts, Chris
Watson, Glen Jordan, Dan Saunders and Chris Cahill who cavorted around very much in the style of the
seemingly endless stream of boy bands all the moves and in the right vocal style. Again this was an interesting
performance.
The gender bender song Random Black Girl saw Tashan Nicholas as black male singing about being a black
female with a real feel for the situation. An excellent singing voice and some real emotion made it a strong
performance.
Candy Store again was a well worked routine with Astin Sutcliffe, Laura Ellis, Skyla Loureda, Corin Miller,
Caroline Pooley, Hannah Shields and Hannah Shields delivering good performances.
Die Vampire Die an interesting little number with Annie Watson taking the lead supported by Caroline Pooley,
Inti Conde, and Chris Watson.
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Hit me with your best shot the Pat Bennatar classic was delivered with gusto and energy with Corin Miller,
taking the lead and supported by Hannah Shields, Astin Sutcliffe, Skyla, Penny Rodie, and Dan Saunders in a
song that was really memorable.
Big Ass Rock another big cross gender number with Dan Saunders, Chris Foxwell, Chris Watson, Glen Jordan,
and Inti Conde.
Surabaya Santa saw Anna Bosanko deliver an interesting solo. She has quite a strong comic persona and
projects it well giving us both a well delivered song and an excellent piece of characterisation.
I Am Africa lead by Jez Roberts, Anna Bosanko, Hannah Shields, and Annie Watson, featured the whole cast.
Spring Awakening with Inti Conde (Wendla), Corin Miller, Astin Sutcliffe, Anna Bosanko, Skyla Loureda and the
full cast showed another facet of the talent on show.
Guy Love the quartet of Chris Watson, Glen Jordan, Chris Foxwell and Inti Conde gave a song that steered a fine
line between platonic and gay male relationships. Very much tongue in cheek this was clearly fun to do and this
came across well.
The Schuyler Sisters with a song from Hamilton featured Skyla Loureda (Angelica), Laura Bird (Eliza), Astin
Sutcliffe (Peggy), Chris Foxwell (Burr) Corin Miller, Hannah Shields, Penny Rodie, Anna Bosanko, Tashan
Nicholas, Inti Conde and Chris Cahill in a big song and dance routine.
The mood changing female song delivered by a male Glen Jordan sings you make me feel like a natural woman
with Annie Watson, Astin Sutcliffe, Caroline Pooley, Laura Bird, Laura Ellis providing excellent backup.
The Les Mis song was the highlight of the show with four girls performing on my own from Les Mis with the
alternative words on my phone and giving us a real spin on modern day obsessions with mobile phones. Laura
Bird, Laura Ellis, Skyla Loureda and Caroline Pooley all gave excellent performances which worked on both an
individual level and as a group.
If You Were Gay, with Anna Bosanko, Laura Bird, Hannah Shields, Laura Ellis exploring some of the issues that
affect young women discovering and dealing with their sexuality, was well done with a really strong feeling of
people at the emotional crossroads of puberty.
The Irish song (Abandon in Bandom) gave us Dan Saunders on acoustic guitar with a very typical Irish folk song.
Again his performance injected humour which added considerably to the song impact.
Dream Girls with Tashan Nicholas, Glen Jordan and Chris Foxwell gave us another transgender number which
clearly was great fun to do.
Pretty Funny another well directed song featuring Laura Ellis, Penny Rodie and Corin Miller, three excellent and
confident performers at the peak of their powers.
The Chicago song gave us the jail house tango but performed by males. The song from Chicago was
reproduced almost exactly as it is delivered in the show by Glen Jordan, Chris Foxwell, Jez Roberts, Inti Conde,
Tashan Nicholas and Chris Cahill. High energy and a really camp feel throughout made this an interesting
spectacle.
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NODA – Be Inspired by Amateur Theatre
Run Freedom Run another performance full of energy with the whole cast lead by Glen Jordan, Tashan, Chris
Cahill and Inti Conde.
The final song was Everybody Wants to Be Black On a Saturday Night delivered by the full cast and finished the
afternoon on a high for both performers and the audience. The performer’s energy and enthusiasm was clear
to see as was the fact that they were having tremendous fun which was shared by the audience.
Director
Lisa Crook put together an excellent and very different show which not only showcased the talent on show but
was also great fun both for the performers and the audience. This was well thought out and designed. Credit
should go to her in converting so well what was an unusual concept into reality.
Musical Director
Adrian Hau led quite a large band visible throughout and gave us a really supportive level of song that really
played a big part in the shows impact. He even used his vocal talents in a six singer acapella song that was a
real highlight of the afternoon.
Choreographer
Scott Ponsford-Stephens devised a wide range of dance routines that suited the level of skills at his disposal
and worked well in reinforcing the whole feel of the show.
Stage Management
With quite a large cast and the need to move them on and off stage in a quick and slick way the stage
management was well worked out to give a really excellent visual impact. As the show was of a fairly informal
nature much of the interaction with the audience appeared spontaneous but clearly this was all part of the
plan.
Sound
A good clear sound in the main however on one or two occasions the mics seemed to struggle but this did not
adversely affect the shows impact.
Lighting
The lighting was used well especially in the gap between the 22 songs/scenes which helped the audience follow
the progress listed in the programme.
Make-up
The make up was subtle and worked well again aiding the performers in delivering their roles.
Set Design
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NODA – Be Inspired by Amateur Theatre
An open stage was the perfect setting for such a varied and fast moving show. This really reinforces that you
don’t always need a formal set to allow a show to work to the full.
Props
A minimum of props, but which were used well. A red flag worked to reinforce a Les Mis like opening number.
Chairs used to create a range of scenarios etc.
Costumes
The range and variety of costumes was striking and backstage must have been frantic with quick changes
galore. Some were very striking and all helped define the feeling being conveyed.
Programme
A simple sheet that gave a list of scenarios rather than the songs which took a little getting used too but once
you adjusted to the different approach as quite useful. The format of the programme reinforced the quirky
nature of the show which was excellent.
Front of house
The front of house team worked well being both approachable and welcoming. Again you get the feel that you
are a guest and this adds positively to the audience experience. I always feel this is an area that needs to work
well having experienced more formal approaches in the past.
Tony Sweeney
Regional Representative
NODA London