Theatre Royal Drury Lane – Tuesday 6th December 2022
Reviewed by Janet Brodie-Murphy
4****
Soloists:
Danielle De Neise
Idunnu Munch
Cody Quattlebaum
Nicky Spence
Narrators:
Martina Laird
Arthur Darvill
Dancers:
Dan Baines
Jemima Brown
Sera Maehera
The Soloists gave good performances and Cody Quattlebaum especially was most commanding and I enjoyed his enchanting performance.
The Narrators again came over very well by I was perplexed by their story line and did not really understand the message that they were trying to get over to the audience.
Whilst the dancers gave us all with wonderful dance moves, I found myself a little unclear why they were there? Jemima Brown brings a magic with her dancing and she moves most beautifully and one becomes entranced.
The music was as ever faultless and the choir numbering around 70 were excellent but I feel that Handel’s work deserved more voices.
The lighting was staged through a central focus in the middle of the stage and I was hoping for something spectacular but for me it only reached a mediocre showing of light images. Nothing said to me wow!
Costumes were convincing but why the dancers were wearing tan coloured under garments that looked like cycle pants I have no idea.
The audience in general I feel enjoyed this performance and there was a standing ovation at the end.
So overall I rate it
⭐⭐⭐⭐ A very good show
However, I wrote in my diary after the show:
“The jury is out for me on our trip to the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane last night to see Handel ‘s Messiah. Impeccable Choir and Orchestra. Notable singers, capable and talented dancers and 2 oddly attired narrators and a strange light production which threw lighting onto a main central feature in the middle of the stage. Did that work for me with the 300 year old music bring dragged into a 21st Century jacket to remodel it. No not at all! it just did not sit well for me and I think Handel would have pulled out all of his hair with concern for his wonderful work being attacked by those who want to change everything just because they can. Lovely experience to visit this majestic Theatre. Oh ‘For unto us is born‘ and the ‘Hallelujah Chorus‘ absolutely fabulous and exactly how, I am sure, Handel would have wished it to be but needed more voices.”