Christmas House Party

REVIEW: Five stars for the Christmas House Party at Babbacombe Theatre

THE auditorium at the Babbacombe Theatre in Torquay, was packed with coach-loads of holiday makers and visitors alike for this year's Christmas House Party.

The atmosphere in the theatre was buzzing; and there was a real feeling in the air that this would be the start of Christmas. Despite the fact it is still October, it would be difficult to argue that the show left anyone feeling any less than festive.

This year saw Steve Laister, master of disguise, host his first Christmas House Party, and he was warm and entertaining throughout. The audience remained in roars of laughter during his comedy shorts. His topical humour may have left a few Torquay United fans a little sore, and may have seemed a little risqué in places to anyone too bothered about political correctness, but was well received by all. Equally, in his beautiful rendition of The Story of Belleau Wood, the audience sat in stunned silence, letting out a huge round of applause at the end. Steve's versatility impressed everyone, and he was a very well-chosen host.
Wayne Champagne was equally entertaining. His clean, cheeky humour had both old and young members of the audience giggling. He has appeared many times previously at Babbacombe Theatre, and it's fair to say that he has become a firm local favourite. Both in his singing and in his comedy, he was outstanding, and the audience will almost definitely take some of his characters away with them.

Special guest, Lily Laight, wowed the audience throughout the show. At the age of just 13, it's clear to see that she will be in Hollywood at no time at all. It's hard to believe the effortless voice that comes out of her mouth when she sings, and it looks so easy for her to perform in such a professional way at such a young age. Both her solo, duet and group performances amazed the audience, and left them sure that they would be seeing a lot more of her on television and stage in the future.

Paul Fordham has a truly exceptional stage presence, and it's clear to see that he really knows what he's doing. His voice is absolutely perfect for the theatre, and the song choices suited him perfectly. Much like Lily, his effortless performances throughout the show left the audience wanting more.

Actress and singer Lindsey Collard was very entertaining throughout. Her voice is very different from Lily's, but very, very good nonetheless. She bought the show into the 21st century with her rendition of 'All About That Bass' by Megan Trainor, which left some of the younger members of the audience grinning. Her engagement with the audience was flawless, and she performed brilliantly in each musical piece.

Dancers Danze Fantastique showed their talents and training in each performance, and they complimented the singer's performances perfectly. The choreographer who worked with the six beautiful girls co-ordinated them perfectly, and each time they appeared it was guaranteed be both professional and entertaining.

The costumes were sparkling, and there wasn't one outfit worn by any cast member that didn't leave the audience in amazement. I dread to think about the glitter budget for this show, but it certainly added glamour to the show. The Snow White and the Seven Dwarves sketch showcased the versatility of all of the performers, and the outfits for the dwarves were phenomenal. There was not one person in the auditorium without a smile on their face at the end of 'Hi Ho, Hi Ho'.

The songs in the show catered for both old and young, with a variety of pop, love and Christmas songs that spanned the decades. There were old Christmas songs by the likes of Elvis and Bing Cosby, and up to date hits by Pink and Megan Trainor. The classic Christmas songs had the auditorium singing along, and the beautiful moment when everyone sang 'Silent Night' in memory of members of the armed forces past and present was a particular highlight.
In summary, if there's one Christmas show you need to see this year, it's this one. The variety keeps youngsters from being bored and restless, and there is something that will make even the most anti-Christmas Grinch want to reach for the tinsel.
 
 Reviewer Zoe Stevens for the Herald Express