The 5th anniversary edition of Standby Please runs at Waterloo East Theatre for three performances today, bringing together ten singers in a varied programme of musical theatre.
The premise is straightforward. Songs are assembled into a one-hour programme allowing for solo, duo or ensemble performance. There is a keyboard accompanist, but very little in the way of props.
The list of numbers includes Cabaret and Sondheim, but also some lesser known titles from Fun Home, Riverdale and Tangled. As this is a small venue, there is no amplification of voices meaning there are some singers who come across better than others.
The idea of Standby Please is to offer London-based showcases for those looking for their next step in the theatre industry. These are recent graduates, just starting out with little or no professional experience. It is a chance to spot a rising star early on.
A few performances I really enjoyed: “Secondary Characters” from [title of show] sung by Catherine Clay and Lizzy Madariaga, both performers with big personalities; “Been A Long Day” from How To Succeed In Business … sung by Stephanie May Gardugue, Kyanna Cronshaw, and James Gibbs (endearingly nervous); and “As Long As You’re There” from Before After sung by Seren Medi Morse and John James Vernon.
“The Negative” from Waitress is given considerable pep by Madariaga, Gardugue, and Rosanna Roscoe. Tom Watson offers an amusing comedic take on “Mama Says” from Footloose and “Everybody Says Don’t” from Anyone Can Whistle.
Then there’s Noah van Renswoude, whose solos of “How It Ends” from Big Fish and “I’m Not Afraid of Anything” from Songs For a New World showcase a delicate virtuosity.
Caitlin Hargreaves is the producer and director of the showcase, with Lily Blundell as musical director. Together with the ten singers, they represent a cross-section of talented early-career artists in musical theatre.
The programme offers 30 different songs – not all delivered in their entirety – from a wide variety of musicals. With quick transitions and a sense of structure, Standby Please gives us the opportunity to see these new singers trying out different melodies and roles.
This was a very enjoyable concert in a lovely venue I haven’t visited in quite a while. I’ll definitely make a note of some of the names here and see what they do in the future.
I’m giving this 3 stars.
Standby Please had 3 performances at Waterloo East Theatre on 30 Oct.
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