ESK COMMUNITY CHOIR -ALWAYS ENTERTAINING IN ALL WAYS!

It was a blue-grey afternoon on October 8^th but despite the remnants of some Winter weather, there was nothing frosty about the entertainment at the Alexandra Hall in Toogoolawah when the Esk Community Choir illuminated the stage with ‘Divas and Delights 2’, a black-tie event packed with sass, sophistication, and some sensational performances by members of the Choir.

As conga lines of concert goers found their places in this historic hall, focus would surely have been directed towards the sea of beautifully adorned tables, mood lighting, and a themed stage setting, heightening the senses and the expectation of the performances which awaited them.

Amongst other things, Eric von Nida has been The Little Mermaid’s nemesis, Ursula, the debonaire defendant in Trial by Jury, a Joel Grey doppelganger from Cabaret, and has cloned Noel Coward to perfection.  On this day another first for Eric was emcee extraordinaire who welcomed the capacity audience with his unique flair and sensitivity then followed up alongside Anna for a most irrepressible, ‘A Most Unusual Day’ a prelude to the diverse selection of songs to follow.

A Most Unusual Day 

Despite the performances of ‘Les Miserables in Concert’ being incontestably thwarted, the power to still evoke emotion was never going to be lost with Ruth Skippen’s stirring rendition of ‘On My Own’.  Then followed young Matilda Kunde’s praiseworthy performance of ‘Castle on a Cloud’, a choir debut for this little rising star.  Completing the trio of solos was Roland’s goosebump delivery of ‘Stars’, these songs a sensational snapshot of the genius of Claude-Michel Schonberg, Alain Boublil and Herbert Kretzmer.

Ruth, Matilda and Roland

While the most recent New York Broadway cast of characters in ‘A Chorus Line’ can feel confident in the knowledge that their place in the chorus lineup of ‘ONE’ is completely secure, there was another energic ensemble from the Esk Community Choir who on this day also managed to cut a rug with aplomb as they kicked up their heels with their lofty interpretation of this signature tune.

ONE chorusline

The diverse talents of some choir members were again on display when, despite the absence of clear light, flautists, Suzanne Clemence and Ruth Skippen, artfully accompanied by Alexis at the keyboard, performed so perfectly Gottermann’s soul-soothing piece for flutes and piano, ‘Le Reve’.  

Marina

And who but a polite society lady such as Miss Otis could concoct a more pleasant regret excuse for missing lunch, touting her upcoming lynching appointment, the result of doing in her lover?  All this explained in Marina Crichton’s delightful performance of Cole Porter’s ‘Miss Otis Regrets’.

Roland again graced the stage with the impassioned ‘I Hear You Calling Me’ the early 20^th century British hit song by Charles Marshall, inspired by love then loss.  Turning the tables, a song of loss then love was Mozart’s ‘Magic Flute’ duet ‘Papagena Papageno’, performed with passion, flair, and lots of flora by Eric von Nida and Susie Walker.

Eric and Sue 

Resplendent in red, Christine Caldwell begged the question in song ‘I Wonder Why You’re Just in Love’ backed by a sparkling Chorus of Choir members. Ahead of an interval, Iain MacLean’s wonderful ensemble ‘Strings and Things’ delighted all with a medley of memorable tunes including Bizet’s ‘March’ from Carmen, ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, the emotion charged ‘Sunrise Sunset’ from Fiddler on the Roof and finally, Elgar’s ‘Salut d’Amour’.  Such a privilege to have this wonderful string ensemble augmenting the levels of loveliness to this day, not the least of which was the addition of some extraordinarily skilful piano accompaniment by Alexis, an eleventh-hour request for their ailing pianist’s replacement.

With raffles won and an audience stretched and quenched around the coffee pots, it was a thirst for more music which saw concert goers resume their places to hear Denis Hawes become ‘The Phantom’ with ‘Music of the Night’ filling the song with wonder, terror, and all the emotion this song evokes.

Patrina McLeod 

There in no doubting Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music has brought musical theatre to the masses and a continuum of a tribute to this composer, backed by a choir chorus, Patrina McLeod’s consummate performance of ‘Love Changes Everything’ with its introspective lyrics and Patrina’s passionate presentation was yet one more showstopper.

Choir Director, Alexis FitzGerald has been designing, constructing, preparing and executing  concert repertoires for the past 45 years and,  because she can, it was a concession for the final song ‘I’m Only a Strolling Vagabond’ that it be sung by Roland, bolstered by the choir chorus in memory of Alexis’s ‘Uncle Joe’, an extremely musical gentle man, with whom she, as a child, had sung this beautiful Edward Kunneke song. 

Roland and the choir 

With cries of ‘more’ from a delighted audience, the choir departed the stage to mingle and deliver their gratitude to this wonderfully supportive Toogoolawah audience along with platters of tantalizing treats for afternoon tea.

To deliver a perfectly polished performance on and off stage, many behind-the-scenes facets often go unheralded.  To this end, big bouquets to the brilliant audio and lighting men, Chayne Walsh and John Caffin for creating superior sound and visuals for both performers and audience alike.  To the unstoppable catering team under the direction of Sue Cox and Di Chaplin; to our choir followers whose arms are forever outstretched in support; and above all, to Alexis without whom this event would not have been; for her incomparable accompaniments throughout the entire performance; and for her limitless guidance, energy  and talents for which this choir and a community will always be indebted.

By:  Sue Walker

Christine Caldwell

Alexis , Ruth and Suzanne

Denis Hawes

LAdies in Red