It’s hard to go wrong with a big band and the Broadway songs everyone knows. It’s also hard to stay grumpy though such razzle-dazzle hits as ‘Mack the Knife’ and ‘Don’t Rain on my Parade’. With such favourable conditions, it is a shame that this production is for one night only.Being a one-night-only show does help sell those tickets, and of course gives the evening a special feeling, but it also means the musicians and singers have nowhere to work from and to. Like a preview, it’s easy to have the level of your performance lowered somewhat by nerves and unfamiliarity with the material. Though the show was undeniably enjoyable and many of the artists prove to be extremely capable, these elements of First Night Syndrome were there, revealed in the glances towards lyrics sheets and the occasional pitching issues. There is certainly a difference between this, and the experience of seeing a well-practised band in their element.I am in no doubt that this show would benefit from not only a longer run to work into itself, but also from a longer show. When the punters know and love the songs it really is pretty wonderful to be in the company of a live big band, so a night like this could and should go on for hours.
