From Avebury’s George Wilding kicking the weekend off in the Priory Gardens with a superb solo set, to Roving Crows finally ending their long gig to the great displeasure of the audience who had been chanting ‘ten more songs’ for what seemed ages, Marlborough’s music fans had an evening to savour with a range of excellent bands performing across the four Marlborough Rising stages.
Sue Round attended the Musical Time Machine at St Mary’s:
A hugely enjoyable romp through the history of musical theatre delighted the audience in St. Mary’s on Friday evening, September 7.
The cast of seven hugely talented actors and singers, who have all performed in West End shows, took the audience on a roller coaster of emotions as they experienced songs ranging from Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘Pirates of Penzance’ to the very recent ‘The Book of Mormon’.
The show featured many old favourites such as “Oh what a lovely morning” from ‘Oklahoma’, “Good morning” from ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, “All that Jazz” from ‘Chicago’. There were inevitably several Andrew Lloyd Webber numbers including “Don’t cry for me Argentina” from ‘Evita’, written with Tim Rice.
Directed by Tom Durant-Pritchard, who you may have seen playing Princess Margaret’s failed fiancé Billy Wallace in The Crown, this was the show’s first run.
Tom, who was once a pupil at Marlborough College and lived in Marlborough, told marlborough.news, “ We were all in the same year at Mountview Drama School in North London. This is our sixth year anniversary and it was a wonderful chance to get everyone back together.”
Sir Tim Rice gave his blessing to the show. In a letter read out by Tom he says, “I would like to wish the organisers of Marlborough Rising 2018 every success with their new musical venture and, in particular, hope that the talented performers and audience of this evening’s show ‘A Musical Time Machine’ enjoy a spectacular evening dedicated to great musical theatre. I’m just sorry I can’t be with you this evening but hope everything goes brilliantly. Break a leg!’
The final number ‘Summer lovin’ from “Grease” was performed by the whole group. The audience were lovin’ it too and gave a standing ovation.
What a great start to Marlborough Rising. The bar has been set very high for future years.
Below is a gallery of pics from all the events of Friday evening. If any copies higher quality copies are required send an e-mail to: info@marlboroughnewsonline.co.uk.
See also other Marlborough Rising coverage:
Saturday – emerging talent
Sunday