Yeadon Town Hall – until Monday 23 December 2019
Reviewed by Aimee Liddington
5*****
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and Futurist Theatre Productions are certainly getting us in the festive spirit with their ‘Christmas Spectacular’ at Yeadon Town Hall. With a mix of traditional Christmas songs and others such as ‘Once Upon a December’ from the hit Broadway musical ‘Anastasia’ and ‘My Favourite Things’ from ‘The Sound of Music’, the cast display an outstanding array of talents. Not only do they put on a fabulous show, but they seem to create an electric atmosphere where everyone seems to be genuinely enjoying themselves.
The production follows the story of two children who are losing their faith in the magic of Christmas. They are taken to the North Pole by an Elf where they meet Father Christmas and find out that all their childhood fantasies are real. By the end of the first few songs, I defy even the most cynical Scrooge not to smile and revel in the joy of Christmas.
With her direction and choreography, Catherine Moglia cleverly mimics the style of the Radio City Rockettes from New York City. To see something so slick and professional in a small town is impressive, to say the least. This sense of professionalism is only enhanced by Justine Moglia’s costumes. The glitter and glam really encapsulate what Christmas is about. Despite the quick changes, the cast members always look smart and never look thrown together.
The talent of the whole cast is something to be highly commended but there are a few individuals who are worth a special mention. Olivia Shillito’s voice is incredibly powerful and diverse as we see in her various solos throughout the show. Most memorable though, is her rendition of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’. Adelaide Waugh also shines out with her take on ‘Oh Happy Day’ and ‘Pie Jesu’ which she sings beautifully with Charlie Clarke. All members of the Junior Cast have incredible stage presence but Rachel Foster’s energy in particular is so charming and infectious.
If you’re looking for something that is quintessentially Christmassy then look no further. Celebrate the talent and dedication of the young team of performers from Futurist Theatre Productions and make this show part of your Christmas line up.