Reviewed by Barry Lenny, Friday 18th December 2015
Presented by the Adelaide Festival Centre in The Festival Theatre, this was the tenth year of the Christmas Proms, an event full of music, song, entertainment, and loads of fun for the whole family. Once more, Timothy Sexton, CEO and Artistic Director of the State Opera of South Australia, leads his own group of musicians, The Adelaide Art Orchestra, in a wide range of music, from Christmas carols and songs and into others relating to the annual theme. This year, the theme for the
Christmas Proms 2015 was 'A Magical Christmas Proms', which opened up a host of possibilities.
The rich and often complex orchestral arrangements, many written by Sexton, make full use of the musicians who, in return, make it all look easy. This orchestra has played the
Philip Glass opera trilogy and so, by comparison, perhaps this is not so difficult after all, not for these musicians. Sexton has been placing high expectations on them for many years and they are used to challenges, in fact, they seem to thrive on them. They have an enviable reputation and, once again, they showed why, in a faultless performance.
The production was directed by Andy Packer, who ensured a packed couple of hours of great entertainment, and Kathryn Sproul came up with one more of her elegant designs, with the rear of the stage completely covered in a set of Austrian, or puff curtains that change dramatically with the lighting and, of course, sparkling decorated Christmas trees.
Along with the orchestra, a group of five singers from State Opera under the title of The Mellowtones: Kristen Hardy, Rachel McCall, Gabi Carter, Adam Goodburn, and
Mark Oates, are also regular performers at the Proms, adding their marvellous vocal harmonies. They are all great singers in their own right, but they have been working together as an ensemble for a long time, and that familiarity has resulted in a very fine rapport resulting in accuracy in their performances, and a very keen sense of balance.
Every year there are two guest artists, and this year they were Adelaide ex-pat, Debora Krizak, and Bobby Fox. Krizak is well-remembered in Adelaide for an early part of her career, when she was with the very successful and popular party band, Chunky Custard. Now, of course she is an award winning star of musical theatre, interstate and abroad. Fox, too, has changed direction, from being a four time winner of the World Irish Dance Championships and performing in Riverdance, to the musical theatre, a move made after he migrated to Australia.
With two such marvellous performers, an appearance by Father Christmas, and the superb reputation of the proms, it was ensured that this would be another season of packed houses. This performance certainly was.
The two Christmas clowns, Moose and Boppa (Alan Holy and Michael Newbold), always a popular pair, were on hand to add their seasonal brand of silent comedy and a sort of comical running commentary on the action.
As usual, Ding Productions provided the five dancers with one of them Charli Ashby, providing the choreography and, in keeping with the magical theme, carrying out a number of stage illusions. Laura Brougham, Abbie Wait, Sophie Michelle, and Bec Jones were the other four dancers and, together, the five assisted the singers and performed their own segments, including the stage magic.
One of the bonuses is the chance to join in with the singing on a number of the carols and songs, with the words provided in the programme, just in case some of the members of the audience needed them. The proms are nicely inclusive.
It would be hard to find a better family event to help with getting into the festive spirit and more people every year are booking tickets. The Festival Theatre seats around 2,000 people and there had to be four performances this year to cater for the demand. Dates for next year have already been announced and, I would wager, tickets have already been purchased by regular attendees who are determined not to miss it. Get your tickets now, too.
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