I went to see BBC Radio 2’s recording of ‘Oh What a
Beautiful Evening’ at the Theatre Royal Dury Lane (TRDL) in London on Sunday 13th
December. The recording, for the BBC Radio 2 Friday Night is Music Night, which
is aired on Friday 18th December 2015 at 8pm. The show was a special
dedication to the talented and beautiful works of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein;
mainly Oklahoma, the King and I, South Pacific, Carousel and of course The
Sound of Music (my absolute favourite), with additional dedication as it is The
Sound of Music’s 50th anniversary. I have never been to the TRDL which
is currently home to Charlie and The Chocolate Factory; which I am planning to
see in the New Year. Anneka Rice presented the show from the TRDL with support from
Michael Praed. I am so pleased I got to see Praed as I was due to see him on
the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels tour however he was not in the show time I saw (which
I was gutted about). He is certainly dishy for an older gentleman (55). When
recordings have hiccups it makes me giggle; Praed was not having the most luck
with his words but he was very funny and made light of it. The production was
supported by Capital Voices and the Choir of the Arts Educational School in
London. Also present was the BBC London Orchestra (conducted by Larry Blank)
and they were absolutely fabulous (and festive) and so talented. I love
listening to a live orchestra and these guys are top notch. Such beautiful
sounds echoed through the auditorium from their skills and talents – absolutely
beautiful. Blank is a well-known composer and conductor and has received three
Tony Award nominations. His work includes White Christmas, The Drowsy Chaperone
and Catch Me if You Can.
The show had seven singers who performed the well-known
songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein, with solos, duets and group songs. All were
fantastic and had wonderful voices. Emma Williams opened the show with a
gorgeous and spine-tingly rendition of ‘The Sound of Music’. I am a huge fan of
this song and Williams did it justice. Her voice is beautiful and so soft. She
has currently been starring in Mrs Henderson Presents which she will stay with
for its West End transfer (which I will definitely be going to see). Williams is a gorgeous young lady and her
dresses were to die for. I was so surprised to see Tam Mutu there, as he was
never advertised to be singing until on the night. I am a big fan of Mutu even
though I have never seen him on stage live before. I have to describe Mutu’s
looks before his voice, GORGEOUS; and I could tell Anneka Rice was on my wave
length too. Mutu has a fantastic voice (a gorgeous guy that can sing – WOW) and
his voice suited the love songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Mutu has played
some well-known parts including Javert (Les Mis) and Phantom (Love Never Dies).
I am not sure where Mutu is going next but I hope I see him in it.
Married duo, Rosalie Craig and Hadley Fraser, were divine;
they even sung a wonderful love song together which melted the hearts of the
audience. Craig’s voice is powerful and carried around TRDL with ease. Fraser’s
voice is so much softer than I expected, especially with his manly lumberjack
beard, however it was still great and he really boomed the end of his lines.
Radio 2’s own Clare Teal was in the line-up of singers and brought her
individual Big Band style to the adaptations of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s
songs. Teal is definitely someone I want to be hanging around with on a weekend
(or a weekday for that matter). Teal puts her heart and soul (as well as hand
movements) into all of her songs. You can see she absolutely loves what she
does and it makes you as audience members love it just as much. John Owen-Jones’
version of You’ll Never Walk Alone will remain in my Musical Memory for some
time; it was perfect (apart from his mistake where he had to start again – love
it). Talk about goose-pimples, my arm hair was poking my neighbour’s face, it
was so warm and emotional I do not know how else to describe his voice and
connection with the song and audience. Owen-Jones is known for his portrayals
of legendry characters including the Phantom and Jean Valjean; in many
productions, recently reprising his role as Phantom before moving back to Les Misėrables
on Broadway. Ron Raines was the final singer and I felt he was the best actor
on stage. His version of Puzzlement was sang and acted so well it could have
been a concert of the King and I; wonderful. Raines has appeared in many musicals,
including some of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s own.
The final person I have to mention is Dame Julie Andrews. No
she wasn’t there (unfortunately) but she recorded such a heartfelt and sincere
video for the audience. I am such a Julie Andrews fan it was great to see her
talking about one of the best musicals ever to be made. I have actually had to
buy the DVD version of The Sound of Music as my video version broke after
watching it so many times. The atmosphere at the TRDL was incredible and the
applause the whole stage received at the curtain call was unbelievable and I
honestly don’t think the singers, choir and orchestra expected it. Although we
urged, screamed and shouted for more we did not get it but what we did see was absolutely
worth it. Please listen to BBC Radio 2 this Friday (18th December)
at 8pm to hear the recording of this special and amazing show.
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