Michael Joseph and Vicki Graham, with the excellent assistance of Megan Cassidy as choreographer put together their take on Glee the TV show, using songs from that show to fashion Glee Live and Loud and give Waterford audiences at the Theatre Royal a crowd-pleasing evening that neatly showcased the quantity and quality of ability coming up through stage schools in Waterford now.
The show was overlong, without a set but a fine lighting plot from Laura Honan, indifferent backing tracks of varying levels and sound control, clever choreography with a decided lack of motivational direction and a dodgy script. At times it was hard to connect performers to the cast list but it had more OMG moments of excitement than WTF bewilderment.
The audience loved the familiar TV routines and Lynda Gough was a treat as the sarcastic Sue Silvester. Kate Fitzgerald shone in an overlong first section with some messy Lady Ga Ga tunes.
Throughout the show Kate Fitzgerald showed quality, skill and characterisation. Her crush was brilliant. Holly Ryan was amazing on And I’m Telling You, but she needed more solos, as the production tried to give too many a solo chance. Ray Collins was wonderful in Piano Man and Vicki Graham and Megan Cassidy were excellent in the cat-fight duet Maybe This Time.
There wasn’t the slickness or emotional manipulation of the TV show and the final act of part one Don’t Stop Believing was a mess of clutter and poor sound.
Lynsey Penkert lit up the second part with Gold Digger and a bluesy intro while Katie Duggan impressed with a clever comedy routine in True Blue. Adam Phelan in a wheelchair had his moments in Bust Your Windows. The clever pregnancy routine for Man’s Man’s World was a highlight of the show and Kate Fitzgerald wowed the audience in a wonderfully choreographed Talk to the Hand routine for single ladies.
Sinead Lyons and Glenn Murphy duetted on defying Gravity and Sarah Power was a pushy Wanda.
Siobhan Ryan provided some excellent dance routines especially a memorable sequence with Shane Walsh.
Throughout this show Rachel Cody, Vicki Sheridan, Evan Croke, Zandra Kelly, Denver Cuss, Mark Rellis, Anne Marie Collins, Anne Corcoran Brown and Caroline Stone provided solid support.
