Review: Some Enchanted Evening, Richmond Theatre

There’s something genuinely thrilling about sitting in a theatre and hearing a full orchestra, especially when you know you’re about to be taken on a journey through the golden age of Broadway and Hollywood musicals. Last night’s concert by the English Musical Theatre Orchestra (EMTO) at Richmond Theatre promised just that, and for the most part, delivered.

With a 26-piece orchestra (a rarity in today’s musical landscape), conductor Gregor Reid leads the evening with visible passion and evident expertise. His introductions to each piece are not just informative, but loving: he’s clearly someone with deep roots in the genre and a desire to celebrate its enduring magic. He also reminds us that this kind of orchestration is fast becoming an endangered species, noting that the last West End show to boast this size of ensemble was the original Phantom of the Opera back in 1986. I’m not going to count how many years ago that was for fear of feeling old. It is a sobering thought and makes the lush live sound feel all the more precious.

The orchestra, on stage and all in black, play with rich expression and mostly tight cohesion. From sweeping overtures to jazzy interludes, they capture the nostalgic grandeur of the era with style. The singers, Roy Locke and Lisa Jane Kelsey, are both strong performers. Locke’s rich baritone brings a classic Broadway flair, while Kelsey’s warm soprano shimmers with clarity and emotion. Their duets are charming and their voices blend well for the most part, but it is in the solo numbers that they shine, perhaps because very little thought has been given to the direction and stagecraft.  Numbers that require an element of theatricality between the two of them (in the West Side Story segment) should be a highlight, but feel a bit mis-directed.

For all the musical polish, the technical side of the evening leaves much to be desired. From the very start of this performance, microphone interference and persistent speaker noise intruded on the experience. At one point towards the end it even seemed as though Kelsey’s in-ear monitor had failed, forcing her to power through with sheer professionalism. There were a few missed cues from the singers too (not disastrous, but noticeable) and the lighting design seemed, at times, like a shot in the dark. Literally. Several moments left the performers underlit or entirely out of the spotlight, an inexcusable lack of professionalism from the technical crew, especially given the breadth of talent on the stage.

Perhaps the most consistently frustrating issue was the sound mixing. The balance was treble-heavy, making the entire sound feel somewhat brittle. There was a shrillness to the top end from the very first note that undercut the orchestra’s warmth, and a surprising lack of bass presence. It didn’t stop the singers from being heard (their diction, it must be said, was impeccable), but it did rob the music of the full-bodied richness it deserved.

Still, there is something undeniably joyful about revisiting these classics performed live with a proper orchestra. Despite the glitches, I left with a smile on my face and a few favourite melodies humming in my head.

Orchestra: English Musical Theatre Orchestra (EMTO)
Singers: Roy Locke & Lisa Jane Kelsey
Conductor: Gregor Reid

Some Enchanted Evening was playing for one night only at Richmond Theatre.
The show will play at the Grand Opera House York on Sunday 20 April.