Andy Kirkwood ,among other things, is the most loveable Father Christmas you could wish to meet. Of course, he is one of the stars in our new production, Christmas on Broadway. His singing and acting talents are far-ranging , but you ask, why West End?
This week in England, i was fortunate enough to see a touring West End show, Chicago, a show Studio 32 had done many years ago. I have to say it was fantastic, but one of my favourite characters , Mr Cellophane , the part played by Andy in our production, was amazing. Andy brought the house down every night, we wept and laughed in the wings, as did the audience, it was a comic masterpiece.
Stripped of all his humanity, robbed of his presence, humiliated by his marriage, the song he sang was of a melancholic sadness that broke your heart. Just one of Andys greats, so don’t miss his narrating and singing in this show, a West End presence in San Fulgencio maybe?
One of the many features that endear Andy to us , is the attention to detail in his costumes and mannerisms when he takes on a part. In South Pacific the comic wheeler dealer sailor transformed into a grass skirted hula hula dancer which was hilarious , his beard for Father Christmas has been growing for three months and we are nearly tripping over it. His voice has been trained with the help of Nicole , our singing coach which has made him as good as any West End star.
Please laugh along with his many jokes in this production, some of them are real Christmas crackers. So with Andy , i have added two very experienced dancers , whether you are just starting to dance now, or went to university to learn drama (with dancing) or have been on the ballroom with the greats in the majestic times of Victor Silvester, somethings never change .
Dance Steps. Both these ladies are the ones to look for on the stage, the perfection and ease that doesnt come easily , confident and stylish and standout performances, that blend in with the troupe.
Laura says that all through her life; dance has been at the forefront, up to a formal education at the highest level at University. To say she can dance is an understatement , she is great. With Jean , probably (is) our most experienced dancer and lived in a time when this genre was everything.
Jean has been amongst the stars of that era. They, all three now combine fluently with our Studio 32 group and add a touch of class within what has become a formidable pool of talent. It helps when your fellow colleagues are as helpful and proficient as Laura, who has been in many big shows. Jean has a timeless quality of grace, style and eye-catching coordination, oh, and a good touch of humour, it all sets the scene for our relentless rehearsals.
If we had to list the many shows that Laura and Jean have been in, would be pointless, what we have now is the pleasurably experience of friendly co-operation , the laughter and the fun is an added bonus. Thank you to Laura and Jean for giving us the pleasure of your lovely dancing and Andy for his amazing characters.
Studio32 are delighted to announce that Friday 29th November has sold out. At time of writing, tickets are still available on Tuesday 26th, Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th November. They are also selling fast. Please don’t miss out as extra nights cannot be added. The Studio32 Broadway Christmas Cabaret is the 2024 highlight winter show of the Costa Blanca. All details can be found on www.studiothirtytwo.org See you there all.
