Just So

Review from Solihull Times (19th March 2008)

Knockout show much more than ‘just so’

Based on Kipling’s “Just So Stories”, this play follows the story of an inquisitive Elephant-Child who embarks on a journey to correct the injustice of the world he lives in by finding a giant crab who’s playing with the sea. There’s an array of spectacular characters, a wise magician, a rowdy rhino, a neurotic chef and what musical would be complete without a singing stove? The talent in the SMASH cast is abundant and apparent, first-rate voices, fabulous cameos and full sounding chorus numbers make for top notch entertainment.

JLG

Photos from the performance

Photographs by Bill Penny

The story of Just So

At the beginning of time, Pau Amma the Crab began playing with the ocean, causing a flood that threatened the other animals. The Elephant’s Child sets out to stop the Crab, and discovers how the Leopard got his spots, how the Rhinoceros got his skin and how curiosity and a hungry Crocodile can turn an Elephant’s small nose into a very large trunk. He also discovers that one determined individual can make a real difference in this world.

Whistle Down The Wind is a story set in the late 1950s that highlights the uncluttered thinking of children that is, for the most part, sadly lost in adulthood. It seems as if children and adults live in separate worlds with different perceptions and languages, but as in life sometimes an event – in this case a stranger in the barn – can bridge the gap.

We first performed Whistle in 1997 and received so many requests to repeat it that we did!

Six new SMASHERS joined us for this production.

Review from the Solihull Times

4th March 2007

SMASH, the music and drama society of Solihull Methodist Church have revisited a previous production this week at the Dovehouse Theatre. Based on both the book by Mary Hayley Bell and the 1961 film, the musical version of ‘Whistle Down the Wind’ was presented by SMASH in 1997.

Laura Ralph (Cathy), Kim Deane (Nan) and Matthew Austin (Charlie) were outstanding as the trio of children who find an escaped convict in their father’s barn. Mistaking him for Jesus, the secret soon gets out and the rest of the children in the village are enlisted to keep ‘Jesus’ safe. The group of children were consistently excellent, singing superbly and staying in character throughout.

The adult characters gave full weight to the dialogue and songs illustrating their brusque impatience and the fear surrounding the situation. The song at the Sunday school nativity play was one of many highlights. This was a definite SMASH hit and there will be many more to come.

F.W. Crane

Photos from the performance

The story

The time is the late 1950s in a small village in Lancashire. Hurrying to a barn with three rescued kittens, Cathy, a schoolgirl, discovers a stranger hiding there. She recognises him immediately as Jesus Christ and tells her sister, Nan.

The next day their brother Charles also learns of their discovery. They decide to tell nobody, but gradually word spreads through the children of the village. Anxious to protect Jesus from unbelieving adults, they keep his arrival a secret and besides, most of their parents are preoccupied with news of a convict on the loose in the area.

Trouble starts when the village bully, Raymond, threatens to give the game away.

Proceeds for the Emmanuel Young People’s Trust

This production was performed in the round, ‘almost from scratch’ after four rehearsals! There were 59 performers.

Rehearsal photos

Photographs by Bill Penny

Ebenezer Scrooge has swapped the love of people for the love of money. It’s Christmas Eve and he is to be visited by three spirits who show him how things might have been…

Review from the Solihull Times

Wednesday, 14 December 2005:

Scrooge proves to be a SMASH
Scrooge, Dovehouse Theatre

As I entered the Dovehouse Theatre to watch the latest performance by SMASH, Solihull Methodists Acting and Singing in Harmony, I was transported back to Victorian England. The performance of Leslie Bricusse’s musical Scrooge not only boasted a cast of talented actors and singers but also some fantastically intricate costumes and special effects of a quality that I have not before seen on an amateur stage.

Alan Faulkner played the eponymous hero brilliantly, showing a trajectory of emotions as Scrooge learnt from his past, and we learnt why his life has been so cold.

Iain Cameron was thoroughly and wonderfully convincing as the ghost of Jacob Marley, his vocal range showed the black humour of the character and he encompassed the irony and searingly scornful laughter needed.

I had not seen this musical before, and was impressed with the intricate score. Peter Farndon made full use of technology to bring a complete ensemble of instruments into the small Dovehouse Theatre and his conducting ensured a beautiful harmony with a complex arrangement.

LRB

Some comments from our audience via email

The show last night was brill. I was most impressed with the costumes – and all down to two people mainly!! It really was very well rehearsed with everyone confident and really in character. It certainly tops last year’s show. Good effects on stage too. Well done to everyone – a big success. The only downside is that it will have to be followed by something equally great!

We went to the Thursday performance. Our reaction was one of utter amazement! The sets were wonderful and so cleverly moved around by the stage hands. The choreography was professional. What can we say about the costumes? So many people to dress and every one individually designed. As for the effects, they had us spellbound. How on earth did the ghost get through that mirror? We have come to expect a high standard and SMASH did not let us down. All accompanied by superb music of course!

Yet another winner for SMASH – the show was characterised by creative adaptation and staging, colourful costumes, the high quality of scoring and sound that we have come to expect… , some delightful, heart stopping and at times tear jerking moments from the children, well crafted performances from our old stagers – all with some ‘wow’ moments – and the emergence of two shining stars in Tiny Tim (I knew the lad had talent!) and Marley’s Ghost (a skilled performance of depth and character – ‘full many a pearl..!’)

Superb as usual. Movement, vitality, message: all there.

A most glorious, galoobrious and utterly crumbobblious Musical Play for Children of All Ages based on Edward Lear’s verses and stories.

Brimming over with fun, this play follows the Owl and the Pussycat on their quest for a ring and someone to marry them. They meet a whole host of Lear’s amazing characters (including the Dong with the Luminous Nose, the Quangle Wangle and the Runcible Spoon) whilst trying to evade capture by the villainous, hissable Plum Pudding Flea.

Please note that the photos below are from rehearsals

Comments from our audience

It sounds as though our audience really enjoyed it judging by the unsolicited comments received by email!

Brill! Fantastic choreography & costumes, talented tots & big’uns, terrific ad-libs from the Cubs!

Brilliant! Super to see and hear the response from the younger members of the audience they were utterly captivated. As were the older members!!!

A delightful, fun-filled, joyous event – wonderful to see all the children & young people joining in so enthusiastically & professionally. What a bonus for the Church to see so many people of all ages & talents working together in harmony & to such good effect.

Fan dabby dozy – educational too. Now I know that honey is spelt with an H

Discombusteously placeshakingly mentalplodingly actingtastically ireffutably vavavoom, it yomped.

It was excellent, lively, intelligent, stimulating! What more could anyone want.

ABSOLUTELY SPLENDIFEROUS!! I thought the young people were so professional and enthusiastic… a high standard and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Good to see so many people from the church family supporting in different ways…. props, music, costume, choreography, technical… as well as taking part on stage… and some new faces involved. Thanks to all concerned.

My boy was in the show – wearing tights and make-up and encouraged to be evil. Is this really what I bring him to church for? Several times a week!