Following the resent auditions, CO2 are happy to announce the following members have been cast for the production of West Side Story in September 2013.
NODA Review – Sweet Charity – “SUPERB!”
Here is the NODA review of 2013 COS production of Sweet Charity
By Ann Platten, NODA East Regional Representative. District 11.
COLCHESTER OPERATIC SOCIETY
SWEET CHARITY
Director Caroline Fritz
Musical Director Neil Summerville
Performed at the Mercury Theatre 31st January 2013
SUPERB! A stunning first class show that just exceeded all expectations in every aspect, from singing, acting, dancing, costumes, great chorus numbers, one could go on with credits for there were so many for Colchester Operatic in this show.
Heading up the cast in a very demanding part of Charity Hope Valentine was Leanne Fincham who gave an outstanding performance in voice dance and with a great feel for the comedy in the part. Leanne’s timing was perfect. To retain this level for around ten performances was a great credit both to Leanne and all the cast who gave their all.
David Rutter as Oscar Lindquist gave an excellent character as Charity’s rather shy boy friend with such an amusing sequence with Charity in the elevator. Great timing also from David, and a total understanding of his character.
Emma Ward as Helene and Jo Daniels as Nickie worked well together and “Baby Dream Your Dreams” so well sung and first class performances throughout the show.
Olly Medlicot as Vittorio Vidal was suave and sophisticated with a very good singing voice and super stage presence.A real smoothie! Ursula his girlfriend played by Joanne Davis looked elegant and very glamorous.
Herman the Proprietor of the Fan-Dango Ballroom shone in “I Love to Cry at Weddings”.I have no idea where his voice range reached towards the end of the number but it was terrific almost past top Soprano range and constant. How Jonathon maintained that pitch is staggering.
Rhythm of Life with Daddy Brubeck played by Richard Bland and a great assortment of very colorful people was a super number and great fun.
The dancers were in top form .I loved” Rich Man’s Frug” in Bob Fosse style which was expertly choreographed.
There were many little touches here and there in the production that gave cameo roles to several of the cast, all made the most of various characters and added a great deal to the performance.
Musically Directed by Neil Summerville with a terrific sounding band driving all the musical numbers in the show with great pace and keeping all the many scene changes covered. Balance of voices and band was very good.
The stage crew had plenty to do with scene changes eight scenes in Act 1 and eleven in Act 2 and did an efficient job.
A great evening with some very exciting shows coming up from both COS and CO2 this season.
Thank you for your hospitality, and once again many Congratulations on the show.
CO2 – Guys & Dolls – Nominated as Best Youth Group Production 2012
WELL DONE CO2, another well deserved nomination. What a talented bunch you are.
See the nomination notification letter from NODA below. Click on any of the words “flier” to see the detail of the leaflet.
Note. Booking for the event on behalf of COS/CO2 will be via Liz Thorne ONLY, so advise Liz if you wish to attend the 2012 Gala Award Ceremony.
Dear Ann & Diane,
It is with great pleasure I inform you Colchester Operatic (C02) has been nominated for the Best Youth Group Production in the Eastern Region, District 11, for the year 2012. The nomination is for “ Guys & Dolls”
The NODA East AGM will be held in the morning of Sunday April 7th 2013 at Burgess Hall,One Leisure ,St Ives Cambridgeshire.10.00am
(Reception and Coffee/Tea at 9.30am).
The reception for the Gala Awards Ceremony is from 11.00am with Coffee/Tea and an opportunity to visit the NODA Trade Stands.
The Gala Awards Ceremony will be a luncheon (a two- course meal with coffee,) which will be £28.50 per person and will be served at 12.30 pm.
The Gala Awards Ceremony will follow the luncheon.
Please be sure to note that Awards will require attendance at the luncheon by pre paid meal ticket access only, also note there is a priority booking date for societies and individuals who are nominated,details on the flyer.
It would be good to see members/friends from the society.
I enclose a flyer for your attention setting out the day’s events. Please note the flyer is on two pages.
Please book as soon as possible.
Kind regards.
Ann Platten.
NODA East Regional Representative
District 11.
Sweet Charity Fan Mail
Here’s what people have said about the COS performance of Sweet Charity 2013.
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Dropped into Mercury’s comments box……….
‘The sweet Charity cast should be on the television’
and
‘We took some friend to see sweet charity we all thoroughly enjoyed it. It really moved along with lots happening and a good convincing flow. The lead singer was absolutely superb. Well done really good and entertaining keep it up. ‘
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Dear Liz,
Very many thanks for your kind invitation to see “Sweet Charity” on Thursday.
Please pass on my congratulations to the company for the excellent performance of a show that in many ways is not the easiest to put across. Quite clearly Caroline had spent a lot of time in careful planning and then direction of this fine production. During my time as NODA Regional Rep. and Councillor, I saw several productions of “Sweet Charity”, including of course that of the Society in 2000, when I was Chairman. None reached the very high standard attained by this current offering, with its excellent characterisations, including a superb performance from Leanne as Charity. There was also first class chorus work which, in particular, was notable for the discipline shown in the Fosse style of choreography displayed.
Musical direction of an excellent orchestra by Neil was first class, with sound design and control such that both words and music were equally enjoyed.
An excellent evening and, once again, thank you.
Yours sincerely
John Warburton
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From: Gary Duncan
Subject: Sweet Charity 26 Jan 2013
Message Body:
The song ‘The Rhythm of LIfe’ is known widely as a rousing Sammy Davis Jnr number. ‘Hey Big Spender’ is typified as a sassy display of South Wales lung-power.
I had no knowledge of the ‘Sweet Charity’ narrative until this afternoon.
To hear the songs in context was a revelation.
To see the talent of COS was just fantastic.
To draw emotion from a performance is a great; crying at real weddings may be natural, but why was I brushing them away this afternoon?
Ah, the power of theatre!
Sincere best wishes and thank you for a great performance!!
Reminds me of an old 1970s Slade song: ‘COS I Love You’
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From: austin hicks
Subject: sweet charity
Message Body:
my self and my partner came to watch sweet charity It was the first show of yours we have seen and we enjoyed it so much the lead role of charity was played to the highest of standards she should be in the west end I myself have been in sweet charity back in Kings Lynn in Norfolk in 1996 and it was a real treat to see the show being done again and not been changed in any way, a massive congratulations to the society and the cast of sweet charity can wait to see next show and hopefully one day join u all on stage myself .
regards Austin hicks
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East Anglian Daily Times (EADT) Review
Sweet Charity by Colchester Operatic Society
Review: Sweet Charity, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, book by Neil Simon at Colchester Mercury until Feb 2.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
12:59 PM
This often seems less like a musical and more like a series of cabaret turns for the leading lady. The story is paper thin and predictable but if you’ve got the right girl playing Charity it’s hugely entertaining – and Colchester Operatic have got a lulu.
Sweet Charity by Colchester Operatic SocietyOkay, Leanne Fincham has played the part before, eight years ago, but now she’s honed it to perfection in a performance that strikes sparks off the rest of the talented cast.
Leggy and gauche, she knows how to deliver a song and enjoys an easy sense of fun that rattles up the laughs.
If My Friends Could See Me Now is always the big number for Charity Hope Valentine, the fatal picker of men who can’t say no. Played out in the bedroom of film star Vittorio Vidal, she belts it beautifully and fills the stage with steps that Bob Fosse would have been happy to watch.
She’s also very good in I’m a Brass Band and finds a nice edge of pathos in Where Am I Going? Her comic timing comes sharply into play in the scene where she is trapped in the lift with Oscar, the latest love of her life, with their song I’m The Bravest Individual.
Sweet Charity by Colchester Operatic SocietyBut this is by no means a one-woman show. Far from it. David Rutter is a good Oscar and Emma Ward and Jo Daniels are in fine form as Helene and Nickie, her friends in the shabby Fan-Dango Ballroom. Their Baby Dream Your Dreams is a delight.
Olly Medlicott’s Vittorio is another voice in nice nick but Jonathan Davis takes the prize for sheer verbal gusto. His I Love To Cry At Weddings is great.
Colchester Operatic turn out terrific, well-drilled singing-dancing chorus teams and the choreography in this show is top class, particularly in I’m a Brass Band and the stonking Rhythm of Life with Daddy Brubeck (Richard Bland) serving up doubtful good advice to his pot-happy congregation.
The large orchestra under musical director Neil Somerville lends powerful support all through and gives the show a creative continuity.
David Henshall.
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SWEET CHARITY – EADT REVIEW
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