The Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue – 28 October 2024
Reviewed by Ava Clarkson
3***
The Lyric Theatre is the venue for West End Musical Halloween for one night only. Opening its doors for the first time in December 1888, the Lyric Theatre is the oldest surviving theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue and a perfect intimate venue for this spooktacular celebration of musical theatre.
The show is bought to The Lyric by award-winning producers of the West End Musical series which includes West End Musical Brunch, West End Musical Drive In, West End Musical Celebration, West End Musical Halloween and West End Musical Christmas as well as Musical Con, the world’s biggest musical theatre fan convention. The show promises to showcase musical theatre ‘number ones’ performed by the biggest stars of the West End. We are assured of a ghoulishly good night! The audience are encouraged to become the cast, to sing and dance along. Many people had dressed up for the occasion and looked amazing.
Our host West End star Shanay Holmes (Miss Saigon, The Bodyguard, Oliver!) appears in full Beetlejuice costume and welcomes us to enjoy a hauntingly good evening! With freakishly fun show tunes from the darker side of musicals including Sweeney Todd, Little Shop of Horrors, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Phantom of The Opera, Beetlejuice and The Addams Family amongst others!
The show starts with all the cast performing together belting out – “When You’re an Addams” (from The Addams Family). Shanay introduces her “leading ghouls” one at a time including Courtney Bowman (Six, Legally Blonde and soon to star in Kinky Boots) Erin Caldwell (Six, Pretty Woman, Heathers) Nathania Ong (Les Misérables, Into the Woods, Hamilton) Tobias Turley (Mamma Mia, West Side Story, Heathers) and Jon Robyns (Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera).
Each performer has their time on stage and treat us to songs from musicals. Jon Robyns treats us to a spine-tingling performance of “The Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera. His voice is truly haunting. A standout performance came during the first half from Nathania Ong as she sang “World Burn” (Mean Girls). Her vocal range and performance were by far the best of the night. Another notable performance was Sally Potterton and her electric violin. Expertly playing a truly eerie performance of The Exorcist Theme. Jon Robyns bought the fun with The Monster Mash and Ghostbusters with a very dubious duct tape and hoover hose forming the proton pack! A finale with all the cast and dancers bought back on stage singing a very upbeat “Day O” and “Jump in the Line” ensured the whole audience were on their feet.
Sadly, the theatre was only half full, but the audience did join in with gusto, dancing and sang along to the much-loved songs. The second half seemed to lose its way slightly, with pop performances of Toxic and Superstition. The show at times felt under-rehearsed and although all performers have phenomenal vocals, they stumbled during some of the songs.
Overall, an enjoyable night out. This seems to be a popular series of shows for hard core musical theatre fans. Indeed, if you are looking for a group singalong, then this is the show for you.