Review: A NIGHT ON BROADWAY at The STAG THEATRE, SEVENOAKS

Tickets: Paid For

Date: 24th February 2023

Seat: C24 (Stalls)

Before I start on my actual review, I want to say one thing: support your local theatres! They are such a vital part of the community; for many, this is their only chance to see some great shows and experience the theatre. So book some tickets if you see something advertised that you might like. It will likely be cheaper than you think it will be, and you'll have a great time.

Now, on with the review.

First Thoughts

A Night on Broadway gave me an entertaining Friday night. It didn't give me star-quality performances or even exceptional singing (barring a few standout numbers and voices). But does it matter? If someone enjoys a show and is entertained for a couple of hours, isn't that the important thing? I think in this context, yes, that's the important thing.

This is a professional production (it's a show produced by Paul Gostling), and leafing through the nicely printed programme, you'll see that the performers are mostly no strangers to the stage. Some have more experience than others, and that does show in the final polished pieces, but it's great to see a local touring company doing something interesting, and interesting is a good word for the show I watched.

The Song Choices

Something that impressed me from the start of A Night on Broadway was the sheer number of songs they were going fit into a two-hour show; there were 28 in total, ranging from Cabaret to Les Miserables and plenty in between. We had old classics (like 'Bring Him Home' and 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow') and newer songs such as 'Something To Believe In' from Newsies and 'The Schuyler Sisters' from Hamilton.

This was a brave choice. Considering the potential audience - those who enjoy show tunes - and the name of this particular show - A Night on Broadway - it would have been easy to stick with the tried and true. To throw in some 'On My Own' or 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' or perhaps 'Somewhere' (and I would have been glad to hear any and all of these songs). Yet to add Newsies, Come From Away, and The Book of Mormon to the list was refreshing. I'm not sure everyone in the audience would have known every note of every song, but this was a chance to experience something new, and, as it happens, I felt the best performance of the night came from one of these more recent songs.

If I do have a problem, it's that there was too much Disney (which is never anything I thought I would ever say or something I thought was even possible). Out of 28 songs, there were five from Disney films (plus one from Newsies, which is a Disney production). And while The Prince of Egypt is a big West End production and Aladdin is about to go on tour around the country, Frozen 2, The Princess and the Frog, and The Little Mermaid are not. Switching out some (or all) of these with something you can see on stage would have been a better idea because that's what the audience was there for, not a medley of Disney tunes - albeit toe-tapping ones.

The Performances

A Night on Broadway offered some truly impressive performances, but it also offered some uninspiring ones.

Let's talk about what was great. One of the best moments of the evening was Jacob Williams and his rendition of Les Mis's 'Bring Him Home'. If you know this song (and really, who doesn't at this point?), you'll know it's a show-stopping number. It requires emotion and someone to sing it who understands how the song is supposed to work; it has its delicate moments and powerful ones. It also requires someone who has a strong falsetto. Jacob Williams delivered. This was his first solo in the show, and we had to wait until the second act to hear it, but it was worth it.

Another excellent moment was Alice Underdown's rendition of 'As Long As He Needs Me'. Again, an emotional song and one that, although short, packs a punch. Alice belted it out and performed it, which, in some of the other acts through the evening, was an element that was missing - singers had good voices, but just standing and singing at a microphone isn't enough when it comes to Broadway tunes.

My favourite solo number, however, has to be 'Me And The Sky' from Come From Away. This was performed - and performed is undoubtedly the right word - by Josie Stone, who stood out for me throughout. She was always 'on', even in ensemble pieces. This song is a story that needs to be told precisely and elegantly; it needs to hold the audience. Josie did a phenomenal job; I would have loved her to have sung some other solos.

Final Thoughts

A Night on Broadway was fun. It was a great way to showcase local talent in a local theatre (and The Stag in Sevenoaks is a lovely venue). This was the show's first performance on the tour, and nerves certainly showed, but this is nothing a little more rehearsal can't fix. This would also improve the staging, which was a little confused at times. With nine performers plus the band, moving about on stage became awkward, with some near misses as people scrambled to get to their positions.

I wonder about those nine performers, though. The show would benefit from whittling that number down to the four strongest performers. Most of the same songs could still be included, and although 'One Day More' would have to go, this was not a great song for the group anyway (why Jacob Williams didn't take on Jean Valjean's part in this number when he had already proved he had the voice to do it is a mystery). 'Cell Block Tango' would also have to be replaced, which would be a shame - especially since Helena Sim was singing/speaking Hunyak's part, which is all in Hungarian. Still, in the interest of making the show tighter and more polished, this sacrifice could definitely be made.

One more note on a personal level; please, if you are going to sing 'Over The Rainbow', sing the Judy Garland version. Eva Cassidy did a gorgeous rendition, but I miss the original, and that's what I was hoping for; it's not what I got.

If A Night on Broadway sounds like something you would enjoy, take a look at the tour dates and locations below and do book a few tickets; it's a good couple of hours of great songs performed with a lot of heart.