THE BARRICADE BOYS – TOWN HALL
THERE may have been a few empty seats, but those who did venture out joined in with some enthusiastic arm waving at the appropriate moments.
The Barricade Boys have all had roles in Les Miserables, so songs from that show made up a sizeable chunk of the repertoire.
But they have also played major roles in The Phantom of The Opera, Wicked, Billy Elliot, Jersey Boys and The Sound Of Music.
As a group, their excellent harmonies, startling range, impeccable style and sense of fun contributed to a feelgood atmosphere.
They managed to surprise us with a swing version of Master of the House, but it wasn’t all Les Mis.
The lads were joined on stage by members of the Stagecoach Cheltenham
School of Performing Arts for Close Every Door from Joseph and This is Me from The Greatest Showman.
And we were treated to a medley from The Blues Brothers, hits from Frankie Valli and a Motown set.
Rock ’n’ roll was thrown into the mix with a thumping Johnny B Goode as well as songs from Phantom of the
Opera and the Beatles.
But the showstopper was their brilliant version of Bohemian Rhapsody.
The minor snag was what seemed a choreography explosion – it was not necessary to have a quirky dance routine for almost every number.
The Barricade Boys did a great job and their combined talent and experience made this a treat for anyone with a love of musicals.