An Evening on Broadway: Callie Reviews a Show.

I've been seeing some shows around town by writing reviews for the The Cambridge Student. It's a good gig. I get to see performances I normally never would b/c being broke means no going out to things that require tickets. Unless tickets for free can be acquired. But like all good writing gigs, I get edited. I liked this review. A lot. It got edited. A lot. So I'm posting it here as a blog entry. Unedited.

Meet "Callie the Reviewer."

Maybe it was the weather, or the stars, or 4 hours in a bus in London traffic after the least productive day of my as of yet very short Cambridge career, or a broken camera, or being called names viea facebook message.  But by the time I walked into Trinity Chapel two minutes before An Evening On Broadway by the Cambridge Pops Orchestra began, I was shivering, starving and ready to burst into tears.  Not the best mood to start a review in.  By a LONG shot.  I was prepared to be disappointed.  Because EVERYTHING on Friday had been disappointing.

And then, barely two minutes in, an energetic, engaged, tap-dancing Henry Jenkinson (SUCH an expressive performer and clear vocalist) sang the words “Outside it’s winter...but in here?  Here it’s beautiful…..even the orchestra is beautiful”

And damn it, he was right.  

From the first burst of the organ, to the colorful witch hats, to a bright orange boa, to the violins, violas and trumpets, it was beautiful….and that was before they’d even really gotten started on the evening.  Ranging across the decades and styles the compositions chosen were a showcase of Broadway’s best--even if they were not all the ‘classics’ we are so used to hearing.  The arrangement was both smart (drawing the audience in) and fun.  Bright and vivacious the conductor Simon Nathan wasted no time getting started, and it was clear from the moment he walked into the room, that he’ll have a career in music if he wants one.  His personality shines through his selections and the verve with which he handles his orchestra and choir demonstrates his skill and confidence.  Eight soloists soared (with the help of a microphone) over the orchestra and choir.  

Sam Oladeinde is a man with stage presence.  Also: he can dance.

Bethany Partridge, and Hetty Gullifer, two very contrasting voices, were showstoppers.  Each in her own way, and her own right.

The applause lasted 5 minutes before an encore was called.

And oh what an encore.

By the time I walked back out into the cold, I was no longer hungry or cold or even angry at anything.  I was on cloud nine.

The worst thing about this preformance?  They only did it ONCE. I CANNOT GO AGAIN TOMORROW OR SUNDAY OR THE NEXT DAY. OR EVER AGAIN.

Cambridge?  Send them on tour.  They deserve a larger audience and a bigger space with better acoustics.

10 stars.

Or 11.

Hell.  42 freaking stars.

This rocked.

And Mr. Nathan?  You bet your buttons I’m buying tickets ahead of time to ANYTHING you conduct.  Because you know what?  Your orchestra?  They are god damn beautiful.  In every way.