Arts Theatre, London – until 18 February 2024
Reviewer Alec Legge
5*****
To the Arts Theatre to see The Choir of Man. I have never been to this theatre and did not know what to expect! On entering I was offered a drink at the bar in the foyer or a drink on the stage. This is new I thought I’ve never been offered a drink on a stage before! So I opted for a drink on the stage.
Entering the auditorium I saw that the theatre was of small proportions leading to what I would describe as having an intimate feel.
I saw that the stage was set up as the bar of a pub with people milling about on stage and a barman pulling pints. Up we went and ordered a pint which was duly pulled from the tap and handed to me. Tasted it and yes it was real beer, Carlsberg in fact. Spent a few minutes getting the feel of being on stage although with your back to the seating it did feel somewhat similar to a real pub. I realised that some of the cast were intermingling with us punters. This was definitely a first.! Then we took up our seats in the stalls.
Gradually the stage cleared to be filled with the performers. What followed then was to me a truly new and excitingly marvellous experience in a theatre! The cast of nine performers sung and danced as though they were having a night in the pub, the singing was superb and the energetic dancing fabulous.
In between songs one of the players acted as a narrator performing monologues extolling the virtues of pubs and their effect on particularly male friendships, music etc, These monologues were extremely interesting and effective and so enhanced the performance considerably.
There were plenty of funny moments in the show including one bawdy sketch involving a urinal, nothing sexual, but immensely funny.
The singing and dancing did not appear polished in the way musicals normally do or the way choirs normally perform but were full of gusto and verve and also encouraged audience participation. They also involved audience members by taking them on stage to participate in some of the numbers.
I will not single out any of the performers individually for particular praise as they were all equally immensely talented and all did individual songs and played musical instruments They also sung together in harmony most pleasantly. They were backed up by a group of musicians visible on a platform above the stage who were also very good. Their intention was to appear to be a group of friends having a good night out in the pub and they gave that impression in spades!
In the program Ben Norris, the monologue writer, wrote, ‘Above all, we wanted to make a show that puts an arm round people, of all genders, and takes them on a bloody good night out’. They succeed in that magnificently.
To my mind this show does not fit in any of the normal theatre categories with a story line etc, but is in a category of its own. with the performers enjoying a good night out with their friends which includes song, dance and generally having fun and on the way thoroughly entertaining and involving the audience with their antics!
The performers and musicians were as talented a group as I’ve ever seen and truly deserved the rousing appreciation which the audience gave them. This was a fantastically enjoyable evening and I would recommend it wholeheartedly.