Friday 18 September 2020

MUSIC CONCERT REVIEW: Matinee Musical Classics - St.Luke's Bombed-Out Church, Liverpool.



'Matinee Musical Classics' is a concert of musical numbers, just one of the shows being performed at The Liverpool Theatre Festival. Reviewing this show is a much welcome relief, as many theatres are still closed during the current restrictions. The show is being performed at St. Luke’s Bombed Out Church, a perfect setting for timeless classic songs to be sung at. The venue itself was extremely welcoming and made the guests feel in safe in a covid secure atmosphere. Social distanced seating were in place and guests' temperatures were taken on arrival.

Matinee Musical Classics was produced by Bill Elms, who has done a great job getting the show on the stage. His passion and vision for the show were clearly noted in the production. The musical director and pianist is Tom Chester, who did a magnificent job playing the piano to all the various songs performed on the stage. 

Liverpool based Operatic Tenor, Roy Locke’s (Phantom of The Opera, Australian Opera) breath-taking voice will take you on an emotional sentimental and uplifting journey through some of the greatest works of Western music. Alongside Locke, he had his special guest direct from the West End, Olivia Brereton sharing the stage with him.

Matinee Musical Classics was an afternoon of all hit songs from the Golden Age of movies and musicals, a perfect show featuring favourite, all time classic songs. Songs from 'Oklahoma', 'My Fair Lady', 'The Sound Of Music' and other classic musicals and movies were briiuantly performed by Locke and Brereton. There were a good mixture of carefully selected songs that the audience knew and loved. Together they shared a deal of chemistry and pathos with each other, which was clearly demonstrated in their performances.

The vocals in Matinee Musical Classics were outstanding and an absolute pleasure to listen to. They clearly loved singing their songs passionately as much as the audience enjoyed watching them perform. I particularly liked how they interacted with the audience as much as they could either by sharing details of little known facts about certain songs and their vast experience of performing all over the world. It was lovely experience hearing the audience hum to all these timeless classic songs.

My favourite segment of Matinee Musical Classics was when they both honoured the great, late Vera Lynn, by singing her popular songs, 'The White Cliffs Of Dover 'and 'We’ll Meet Again'. These songs really resonated with the audience as 'We’ll Meet Again' has now become even more poignant in the given circumstances.

The set of Matinee Musical Classics was elegantly decorated with a red, velvet curtain in the background, complete with lights sparkling in the black curtains in the distance. The technical team, Gareth Edwards and Osian Griffiths did a brilliant job with all the lighting and sound aspects of Matinee Musical Matinees. 

Overall, the show is a fantastic celebration of all the greatest songs ever performed in the Golden Age of movies and musicals. A fully enjoyable afternoon watching these iconic, timeless classics songs being performed amazingly by Roy Locke and Olivia. Brereton  This show is just one of the two shows performed today as part of The Liverpool Theatre Festival.

Reviewer - Mark Cooper
on - 17/9/20

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