|
|||
|
Youth Theatre Reviews |
|||
|
|
Carnival the MusicalScript by Graham Whitlock, Siobhan David O'Dean, Ali Medani and Clarrie
Mae Bent, music and lyrics by Wayne Roberts, Jesse Cunningham, Daniel
McCarthy, Benjamin Batten and Siobhan David O'Dean This year's musical production from Dreamarts, Carnival, appropriately enough took place less than a week after the end of the Notting Hill Carnival. It will undoubtedly confirm many people's prejudices about the event and might well suggest to parents that they should keep their children well clear of West London over the August bank holiday. Narrated by Jesse Cunningham as sinister giant Mr Midnight, who might be some kind of witch doctor, this coming-of-age drama follows the fortunes of Lauren, played by talented singer, Rachelle Roucou. On the eve of her 16th birthday, egged on by her Nan, Lauren is a would-be Carnival Queen with a glittering costume and statuesque headdress. It should be easy for the youngster - turn up, parade around and win a prize. However, life is rarely like that and particularly on a stage. Somehow, Lauren gets embroiled with the misfortunes of Anton, a handsome street poet and drug dealer played by Bevan Celestine-Vincent, whose stronger suit is his acting. For the one and three-quarter hour duration, the pair fall in and out of love while at the same time desperately trying to find £400 to keep Anton from a beating. In a somewhat fairy-tale turn, he had borrowed the money to help his hospitalised mother, rather than merely to get the latest cool trainers, feed a drug habit or keep his girl sweet. The latter task would not have been easy since Gina 'Jeggers' Adu's Baby Doll is a feisty little thing with a big mouth that she loves to utilise. She also gets possibly the show's best song, the snappy Baby Daddy, which ends the first act on a high. Inevitably, everything comes right in the end, which owes something to the efforts of Lauren's Nan, Ayesha Asantewaa showing both a comic gift and a strong singing voice particularly in her duet with Lauren, Float Dreams. The real strength of this production lies not in its plotting but the music and choreography. The songs are nearly all upbeat and joyful, mixing rap, soul and club sounds played by a live musical quartet unusually including an oil drum. At its best, the dancing would not look out of place on some West End stages, which is a compliment both to the choreographer, Jumeee, and the whole cast but particularly a young, energetic, four-strong dance company deserve to have their names recorded here - Kezra Hunt, Michelle Meehan, Rhona Noel and Ava Sangster. Carnival is fun and allows an onstage team of youngsters to show off talents that in some cases could eventually lead to a career in the musical theatre. As such, it is a very worthwhile venture.
|
||
|
|
