The British Gamers’ sixtieth Anniversary Outdated Time Music Corridor: In With the Outdated and In With the New is much less a efficiency for an outsider — whether or not to the music corridor kind or the British Gamers’ neighborhood — and extra a household affair. To attend this costumes-encouraged present is to be welcomed right into a tight-knit group’s 60-year custom. This is the Outdated Time Music Corridor’s sixtieth iteration, and it celebrates the music halls of eras previous, together with the pre-2001 performances that happened within the British Embassy.
The present can’t be “reviewed” within the conventional sense. The present seeks to be a celebration of particular person neighborhood members, the legacy of the British Gamers, and the legacy of British music halls, with the previous two fueling the way in which it approaches the latter. My central takeaway from this efficiency was that it was an honor to attend and canopy an occasion with a number of In Memoriams and featured performers who’ve labored with this presenting firm because the Sixties and proceed to convey their love of this artwork kind to patrons who may need been watching them since then. The sold-out home round me in the course of the Saturday matinee I attended was full of visiting seniors from a number of retirement houses who have been having the time of their lives. When I’m their age, I can’t wait to take pleasure in my very own model of this present.
The Edwardians and the Bow Belles in ‘The sixtieth Anniversary Outdated Time Music Corridor: In With the Outdated and In With the New.’ Picture courtesy of The British Gamers.
“Music corridor” is a type of selection leisure that was standard from the early Victorian period by World Conflict I — roughly from the 1850s to 1918 — originating in British bars and inns or wherever there was alcohol and a spot to bounce a ditty. The number of leisure in query might embrace each G- and PG-rated fare in addition to extra bawdy materials, relying on the venue. In keeping with this custom, a lot of the British Gamers’ present options characters mourning unlucky elements of their sexual exploits in numerous ranges of explicitness. Should you thought that as a result of this present was a tribute to the artwork of supposedly extra conservative instances it might be extra conservative in its content material, take into consideration what occurs when artists exist in conservative societies. Moulin Rouge! is a greater comparability for this present than Mary Poppins.
Beneath Charles Hoag’s general and musical course, the present is usually genuinely charming. The emcee of the proceedings, Mr. Chairman, performed by Robert Leembruggen, is a pleasant actor whose lovable jokes, memorized poems, and crowd work showcase his efficiency chops in addition to sheer lovability. Richard Jacobson, who sings the solo quantity “I’m Shy” and performs an ensemble position in a number of others, together with a Beatles medley, is a standout performer, with line fluency and spectacular vocal skill contributing to his endearing, excellently delivered performances.
The Helen Hayes–nominated Albert Coia, who has been a member of the British Gamers since 1969, performs the Cheeky Chappie, a soloist character who seems 3 times to sing “Dickie,” which is about what you’d anticipate; “The Night time That She Cried in My Beer,” about an alcoholic who can’t appear to get fortunate in love; and “The Night time I Appeared as Macbeth,” about an actor who can’t fairly appear to cease inviting bricks and “vegetable matter” to be thrown his manner on stage. I discussed to a different attendee at intermission that I wasn’t certain what horrible life situation was going to be sung about subsequent. Most of the songs could possibly be summarized as “he left me, she left me, he left me for my mom.” However it’s to Mary Poppins-sounding music, so it’s effective.
TOP: Abigail Mitchell, Shannon Cron, Robert Leembruggen (Mr. Chairman), and Jamie Sinks; ABOVE: The Edwardians, that includes Abigail Mitchell, in ‘The sixtieth Anniversary Outdated Time Music Corridor: In With the Outdated and In With the New.’ Images courtesy of The British Gamers.
Choreographers TiaMonet Flores and Lisa Singleton have accomplished an amazing quantity of labor coordinating dances for thus many performers, and Costume Designer Nicola Hoag and Props Designer Valerie Matthews additionally deserve ample applause for his or her huge achievements in costuming that many individuals for thus many distinctive bits as properly. Accompanist Sue Mason McElroy has realized an encyclopedic variety of songs of varied speeds and kinds, carried out by all kinds of actors, and deserves huge kudos.
By sharing this celebration of their establishment and beloved artwork kind with the general public, the British Gamers are inviting newcomers into their household, and I’m grateful to them for entrusting their work with us. It’s really an interesting cultural expertise to attend this efficiency, study this neighborhood, and expertise new traditions.
Operating Time: Three hours with one 15-minute intermission.
The 60th Anniversary Old Time Music Hall: In With the Old and In With the New performs by June 22, 2024 (Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm and Saturday at 2:00 pm), offered by the British Players acting at Kensington Town Hall, 3710 Mitchell St, Kensington, MD. Buy tickets ($36 for common admission, together with drinks [water, soda, beer, and wine] and snacks) online or by e mail to [email protected].
COVID Security: Masks are non-compulsory.
The sixtieth Anniversary Outdated Time Music Corridor: In With the Outdated and In With the New
Directed and Music-Directed by Charles Hoag
Produced by Sara Cath
Choreographed by Tia-Monet Flores and Lisa Singleton
PERFORMERS
Mr. Chairman: Robert Leembruggen
Soloists: Albert Coia, Jordyn Nicole, Clare Palace, Nicola Willis-Jones
Bow Belle: Tia-Monet Flores, Abigail Mitchell, Lauren Pacuit, Rachel Schlaff, Jamie Sinks
Edwardians: John Allnutt, Michelle Buteau, Matt Craun. Sue Edwards, Justine D’Souza, Amanda Dullin-Jones, Matthew Hanstad, Kristen Humphrey, Richard Jacobson, Ellen Kaplan. Robert Teachout, Missi Tessier, Aubrey Tingler
