Review of Variety Show – 17 and 18 October

Adderbury Theatre Workshop Variety Show – Wow! What a show ATW put on at the Institute.
Talk about variety! 21 different items on their most creative programme ever – and all for £10 per seat. What value!
New director Paul Cox’s  programme had all the expected stuff – great Gang Show intro, dancing girls, plenty of stand-up from Gary Leonardi (some very funny, some not Gary) and loads of diverse music from Beatles to Abba – but also a brilliant Blues session with the Cox brothers in fine voice all backed by the splendid Warwick Junction band.

There was a very creative variety of new stuff as well, such as philosophical monologues from Barbie doll (great debut from Laura Szekely) and the pitfalls of being nice (from Aud Humphrey). We had a clever secret agents sketch with the imposing (and very tall) newcomer Henry Taylor, and a very funny flirting class (run by the excellent Diane Grant) finishing up with pupil Mel Cox getting her would-be suitor (it was husband Jamie!)in a neckhold on the floor.
But for me it was our nine ladies who stole the show with their great girl power, especially in the Guys and Dolls number ‘Take Back Your Mink’, and also as a bunch of northern tarts in the local chippy. Most of them were involved in at least two amazing costume changes (take a bow costume chief Gill Osborne!) and all so well choreographed by Alison Heath.
The ATW staging was stronger than ever with a load of creative backdrops, none better than a 5-minute cutting of the film Brief Encounter to accompany Adderbury songbird Karen Dwyer’s haunting rendition of Hazel O’Connor’s ‘Will You’.
So, another huge ATW hit showcasing their great talent and the dedication to produce such a diverse and thoroughly innovative and enjoyable show. Adderbury is so fortunate to have them
Roll on the panto in January – oh yes it is!