Music spectacular from ESNA Players

ENTERTAINMENT with a capital ‘E’ was delivered by the superb multi-talented ESNA Players proving to be masters of their craft with vocal, acting and dancing ability all thrown into the mix as they took to Loughborough Town Hall’s stage in their latest musical spectacular ‘Strictly Musicals.’

Centred around excerpts from six award winning West End musicals, the production was adapted by Emma Adcock, Nicola Dexter and Ben Hardy and their intention was and I quote ‘to present the perfect introduction to the West End’ No question, intention successful! Presented on a two level stage set against a full panoramic background projection screen the audience were taken on a whistle stop time travel experience as we sped from London to Greece next Austria, off to America and finally arriving in Paris.

Shows taken in during the first half were ‘Matilda’ which gave the talented youngsters including Zara Giglio as the title character their chance to shine and shine they did with Clare Hazeldine (Miss Honey’s) effortless solo ‘My House’ and versatile James Daw (the doctor) providing strong support. Swiftly on to the Greek Islands with well known ‘Mamma Mia’ given the full unrivalled ESNA treatment with several toe tapping iconic songs that also included the poignant duet ‘Slipping Through my Fingers’ from Emma Healey and Laura Hardy as mother and daughter Donna and Sophie.

With breakneck speed we were off to Austria reliving Maria’s journey in ‘The Sound of Music’ as the return- ing youngsters shone in their number ‘DoRe-Mi’ with the deep rich voice of Jonathan Penton’s ‘Edelweiss’ and the moving ‘Climb Every Mountain’ making for a brief refuel at the interval.

America became the fourth destination with the energetic rousing singing and dancing ‘All That Jazz’ from ‘Chicago’ featuring the skills of Julie Easter and the slickly silhouetted routine ‘Cell Block Tango’ was visually and impressively executed. The fifth location? Egypt following the Biblical story of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ Natasha Bryan as the narrator was superb as was tremendous whole company who captured the true essence of this fabulous show.

Finally to France with the again entire ensemble faultless in their performances from ‘ Les Miserables’ with the emotive ‘Bring Him Home’ to the stoic stirring revolutionary ‘One Day More’ that brought the cheering audience to its feet in a full house well deserved standing ovation and after ESNA’s superlative production I defy anyone not to appreciate and enjoy this genre of theatrical enterainment.