Review by Sarah Thomas - The Magic of the Musicals concert - May 2019

When you are writing a concert review a week after the performance and still feel euphoric, then it's a sure thing you have experienced something pretty special.  Ryan Wood must have reached deep into his Mary 'Poppins-esque' music bag and pulled out what seems to be Noteworthy's most popular Annual Concert to date.

To quote Stephen Sondheim, "I'm a great audience. I cry very easily. I suspend disbelief in two seconds."  So, when the choir opened the concert with a Sondheim selection, I was in my element.  Not always a popular choice because of his challenging rhythms and vocal leaps but this kicked everything off beautifully and their rendition of 'Sunday' from 'Sunday in the park with George', accompanied by the incredibly talented Stewart Roberts, was simply perfect.

For the next two and a half hours, on a Saturday afternoon, Noteworthy Mixed Choir filled St Michael's Church with the most glorious harmonies, paying homage to the musicals of yesteryear and an exciting nod to the newest, critically acclaimed productions.

The exceptionally high standard continued throughout the afternoon with solos from guest artists Katy Elizabeth Treharne , Callum Howells and newcomer to the Noteworthy family, Samuel Wyn Morris; all shone in their own, unique way and complimented one another beautifully.  Not content to 'play it safe' I loved the fresh approach and delivery that Samuel brought to the classic musical theatre numbers, proving that they still have their place.

With a voice as light as air, I always enjoy Katy's performances and she keeps getting better. Her delivery of 'Popular' from Wicked was extremely entertaining and showed off her comic timing as well as her stunning vocals.  We, the audience, were privy to a very special moment, when Samuel Wyn Morris recalled watching Katy Treharne play the role of Christine in 'The Phantom of the Opera' in the West End. He was an impressionable fourteen year old boy at the time and his absolute glee was palpable as he now performed, with her, the love duet from that very same show.

From a sadistic stalker to the nicest and cheeriest of gambling crooks, Callum Howells is never satisfied just giving us a song, he has to throw in a masterclass in acting to boot.  His version of 'Not a Day Goes By' from 'Merrily We Roll Along' has certainly stuck with me 'day after day'. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes moving but always personal.  Add to this a very moving and sensitive version of 'Bring Him Home' from 'Les Miserables' on the cello, by Stewart Roberts and a delightful piano duet from him and Ryan, displaying creative teamwork at its best.

There was no loss of quality at any point and the energy and commitment to every musical number was sustained right up to the final note.  After the standing ovation and the complimentary glass of bubbly, the church began to empty but we all left with just the right amount of magic required in these dark and depressing times to transport us to a better place.

To end with another Sondheim quote, Ryan Wood and Noteworthy, "Anything you do, let it come from you. Then it will be new. Give us more to see."