As mentioned in my last review, I am not a fan of the last couple of weeks in the calendar year, so to attend two Christmas themed productions in those final few days of 2022, was a fete above and beyond the call. However, like the week before, I thoroughly enjoyed my outing which this time consisted of Nativity! The Musical.
Mr Madden, a teacher at St Bernadette’s Primary School is forced to organise the annual nativity play. After a war of words with rival, Mr Shakespeare, from Oakwood School, he vows to bring Hollywood to Coventry in the form of his former girlfriend, Jennifer, who is supposedly a high-flyer in Tinseltown. However, Jennifer’s status is not as grand as she once made out and adding the bizarre and extrovert antics of teaching assistant, Mr Poppy into the mix, Mr Madden has his hands full.
Yes, Nativity! The Musical is Christmas, all gift-wrapped and unashamedly full of seasons’ cheer. But even though this is the draw which brings the kids and their families in, it is an enjoyable show. And that’s the important thing. Many of these families may never have even sat in a theatre before. However, after such a good time, the hope is they now develop a feel for the art and will return next year, maybe going onto other theatre offerings in the meantime.
A full company opening of Here Comes Santa Claus is followed by sometimes cheesy, but nevertheless, feelgood tunes in Five Star Review/Better Than You, St Bernadette’s, Hollywood Are Coming and especially, Sparkle and Shine which also features at the end of Act One and then in a finale reprise. I particularly enjoyed the Oakmore Nativity (Herod the Rock Opera) with the homage to Jesus Christ Superstar’s guitar riffs. And then there was the St Bernadette’s Nativity: Nazareth, One Look and Good News were all excellent before the story wrapped up with Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and She’s the Brightest Star.
Then there are also principal numbers. Ben Lancaster (superbly playing Mr Poppy) shines in Very First Day at School as does Billy Roberts (Mr Maddens) and Daisy Steere (Jennifer) duetting with Wrapped in a Rainbow. And the villain of the piece, the gloriously evil Mr Shakespeare (Matthew Rowland) stood out with Hollywood Never Came.
Supporting well in the adult cast were Ralph Bogard, Jamie Chapman, Jemma Churchill, Tom Hext, Sydney Isitt-Ager, Cameron Johnson, Callum Train, Eliza Waters and Louie Wood. But I must give a huge shout out to the talented youngsters for whom many, this will have been the biggest production of their lives so far. Over the run they were split into two groups, but I’ll give them all the recognition they fully deserve.
The children of St Bernadette’s were Ava Ayodeji, George Bakel, Frankie Bradbury, Ava Carty-Jones, Madison Davis, Hattie Disney, Matilda Flower (playing the tiniest but brightest star), Seth Foster, Isaac Fox, Felix Holt, Ava Hupperdine-Perrin, Molly Jin, Sophie John, Kyrelle Lammy, Mac Manumbre, Oliver Milchard, Darcie Morris, Alexandra Ngwenya, Mischa Palor, Abigail Salt, William Stafford and Ziame Stewart. Whereas those from Oakmore featured Willow Adamson, Toby-Jay Amphlett, Bronte Ashmore, Zara Bench, Beatrice Carpenter, Amelia Katie Connor, Thomas Cox, Amelie Davison, Alyssa Dewar, Ivy Edwards, Betsy Fahey, Ayana Freckleton, Effie Gell, Isla Granville, Ocean-Flower Hemmings, Jessica Howell, Alfie Jennings, Nia King, Ava Knight, Will North Lewis, River Mahjouri, Annabel Parsons, Zara Pearson, Max Reekie, Gerline Rosales, Frankie Stephens, Eboni Rae’ Thomas-Witter, Amelia Uma Thompson, Isla-Belle Trimble, Ryley Trimble, Daniel Webley and Iman Wilkins.
Debbie Isitt is the writer/musical composer of the show and directed the production. Co-Composer, on the other hand was Nicky Ager and the Associate Choreographer, Rebecca Locus. Musical direction came from Joshua Griffith while orchestral supervision was from George Dyer.
Nativity! The Musical, like Christmas, is over now. However, if as the main subject, it reappears again at the end of this year, I’d certainly recommend giving it a go.
Cheers.
Antony N Britt - Author 