It was a blue-grey afternoon on October
8th 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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’.
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| 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 20th 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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
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| Christine Caldwell |
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| Alexis , Ruth and Suzanne |
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| Denis Hawes |
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| LAdies in Red |
