Review: Unwrap The Magic, The Co-op Juniors Theatre Company Christmas Spectacular, Snape Maltings Concert Hall, until December 23.
It wouldn’t be Christmas without the Co-op Juniors. While it was cold outside, this year’s show certainly warmed the audience’s hearts.
From dancing penguins and pirates to princesses and fairytale characters, there was plenty of festive cheer.
Their eighth Christmas Spectacular at Snape, 2012 sees the Ipswich-based group celebrate 70 years of entertaining Suffolk.
Sitting beneath an enchanted tree, young Kate (Vanessa Mottram) gets a rather special book from her grandfather. To unlock its secrets she must find the missing pages with the help of her Fairy Godmother (Stephanie Brown) and the wild wizard Enigma (Jack Brett), who has a few secrets of his own.
What follows is a magical trip through time and faraway lands bursting with toe-tapping songs, dazzling dance numbers and the odd bit of real magic courtesy of consultant Steve Kovarez.
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The set is amazing, with the enchanted tree created from elements of the giant oak that featured in the opening ceremony of this year’s Olympic Games.
Thousands come to see the members perform each year, knowing they’re guaranteed a slick show and this year was no exception.
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Having a story helped bring the 24 very different routines together and the three principals were great; the back and forwards between Brown and Brett went down particularly well.
It’s a team effort though and full marks to the whole cast who sang, tapped, pirouetted, shimmied and shook their socks – and in one case almost an actual shoe – off.
From the land of winter, forbidden forests and outer space to adventure island and an enchanted castle, the young, junior and senior members had even the youngest spectator sat spellbound. A special shout-out to the little ones, who garnered more than their fair share of aahs from the audience.
With well-performed songs from The Beatles, One Direction, Madness, The Sound of Music, Hairspray and loads more every musical box was ticked.
The choreography was just as spectacular; particularly the close to the first half – with a parade of every fairytale character you can think of and more mingling with the audience.
All in all, a magical show. read more about the and check out the picture gallery by clicking the above link
WAYNE SAVAGE
