January 25, 2012
Oxcetera presents an evening of classic hits from musicals throughout the ages. In a swift 45 minutes the audience was taken on a musical journey from the 1930s to today as the cast belted out classics from hits ranging from 1934 musical Anything Goes to 2003 show Avenue Q. The ensemble narrated the performance as they went, offering pieces of musical trivia to stitch together the set pieces.
All five members of the ensemble were truly gifted singers, seemingly just as at home with the upbeat fast tempo songs as with the slow, more romantic numbers. However, their powerful voices couldn’t distract from the static staging. Throughout some emotive songs, such as 'If I loved you' from Carousel, the two singers on stage gazed out motionless, fixed to a point at the back of the stage, portraying zero chemistry - which as an audience member, was slightly disengaging. For such a romantic number, one would expect at least a little interaction between the supposed lovers on stage.
What would have made this musical extravaganza go from good to great would have been more treats for the eyes. Better and more frequent dance choreography or dramatic sequences would have lifted and engaged the audience. The occasional section of simple dance moves or acting appeared stiff and awkward. In such an intimate venue as the Burton Taylor, audiences expect to have that unique feeling of interaction - which was sadly missing from It’s a Hit.
Undeniably this show is all about the music though, and with such amazing singing voices you’d think these artists will go far. Let's not forget to mention the talent of the musical accompanists situated on the edge of the stage either. If you love a wide variety of musicals, this a rare chance to hear classics from a broad range of shows in one - from Fiddler on the Roof and Rent to the lesser known musicals such as The Wild Party - and you'll find It’s a Hit well worth seeing.
All five members of the ensemble were truly gifted singers, seemingly just as at home with the upbeat fast tempo songs as with the slow, more romantic numbers. However, their powerful voices couldn’t distract from the static staging. Throughout some emotive songs, such as 'If I loved you' from Carousel, the two singers on stage gazed out motionless, fixed to a point at the back of the stage, portraying zero chemistry - which as an audience member, was slightly disengaging. For such a romantic number, one would expect at least a little interaction between the supposed lovers on stage.
What would have made this musical extravaganza go from good to great would have been more treats for the eyes. Better and more frequent dance choreography or dramatic sequences would have lifted and engaged the audience. The occasional section of simple dance moves or acting appeared stiff and awkward. In such an intimate venue as the Burton Taylor, audiences expect to have that unique feeling of interaction - which was sadly missing from It’s a Hit.
Undeniably this show is all about the music though, and with such amazing singing voices you’d think these artists will go far. Let's not forget to mention the talent of the musical accompanists situated on the edge of the stage either. If you love a wide variety of musicals, this a rare chance to hear classics from a broad range of shows in one - from Fiddler on the Roof and Rent to the lesser known musicals such as The Wild Party - and you'll find It’s a Hit well worth seeing.