The Theatre Channel – Classics of Broadway

Marisha Wallace performing in The Theatre Channel’s Classic Broadway episode. Picture: Edward Johnson

Classics of Broadway is streaming on The Theatre Channel.

Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★✩

Digital performance has come a long way in 12 months. Perhaps, at some point in the future, we shall regard this as a positive pandemic outcome. We’ve learned – really learned – to make the best of a bad job. That means taking high level performance into people’s homes and few organisations do it as adeptly as The Theatre Channel.

Episode 5 of their project builds on the previous four episodes (now available to buy and watch as a bundle) by presenting a small group of ‘Big Names’ and a talented ensemble of four. They perform well-known numbers, using empty theatre space – including foyers, seating area, bar and so on – as the setting.

The performance no one who watches this episode will forget is Marisha Wallace singing ‘Somewhere’ from West Side Story on the roof terrace of the National Theatre. The final number in the episode, it exudes symbolism and poignancy given that the NT is currently closed. And she sings it with majestic beauty.

I also loved the gravelly charisma Freddie Fox brings to Emcee’s ‘Willkommen’  from Cabaret – followed by ‘Money’. Director/choreographer Bill Deamer makes fine use of the distanced four-strong ensemble (Alyn Hawk, Emily Langham, Sadie-Jean Shirley and Alex Woodward) in the latter song and in several others.

Bonnie Langford has fun with ‘I Get a Kick Out of You’ from Anything Goes, flinging off her raincoat to reveal a sparkly, slinky trouser suit and ending on a counter with one leg vertical and a huge smile on her face.

And Gary Wilmot – lots of presence on stairs – gives a warm, personable account of ‘Luck Be a Lady’ from Guys and Dolls.

Production values are impressive – the episode looks and sounds good. Of course it’s what we would once have called a “revue” or a concert. Each item has been filmed separately often, I gather, with direction fed in via Zoom. It’s quite an achievement, therefore, to have made the whole seem so integrated.

Half an hour of high quality musical theatre is welcome but how wonderful it will be when we are able to share this kind of theatrical magic in the same space.

Susan Elkin