March 13, 2009
The annual tradition of the Oxfordshire Gang Show arrives making the New Theatre the embodiment of a true community venue. Local Units of Scouts, Beavers, Brownies, Guides and Rangers are all warmly welcomed by both Scout Association Leaders and the theatre’s own helpful front of house team for an evening of variety, comedy and musical mayhem. On stage, Junior Gang takes the audience on a trip to the seaside with a medley of fun songs and as in previous years, talent shines brightly in the ranks of youngsters dancing and singing on stage.
A grim and gruesome pirate ship number has the troupes marching up the aisles in clanking chains. The show includes a quiz competition and a comedy routine of what happens when the TV remote control gets out of control! Back by public demand no doubt and fresh from last years rave reviews four men dressed as blushing belles sing a surprisingly moving ‘Always the Bridesmaid’. A popular comedy routine of three women sitting on a pier is included as well as perennial favourite ‘Hold Me Close’ in a South Pacific style staging.
But this is fun for kids (of all ages) and Gang Show director Kim Griffiths brilliantly taps into the longing we all have at strict museums to touch the exotic exhibits. A recreation of Oxford’s finest archives explodes into a UV dance spectacle to ‘Walk the Dinosaur’. Senior Gang bring the proceedings up to date with high tech dance routines to Latino chart music including ‘Genie in a Bottle’ then burst onto the stage busting moves to Run DMC. Yes, ‘It’s like that’ and this close to full house joins in with all the actions at the close of this annual show and sing ‘don’t stop moving to the Gang Show beat’. An emotional new song penned by one of the musical directors has us all waving hands in the air before the Gang Show President takes the stage to praise the amount of work that goes into putting on such a great show. From waving the flag and standing for the national anthem at the beginning this is an evening full of tradition and another excuse to go ‘riding along on a crest of a wave!’
A grim and gruesome pirate ship number has the troupes marching up the aisles in clanking chains. The show includes a quiz competition and a comedy routine of what happens when the TV remote control gets out of control! Back by public demand no doubt and fresh from last years rave reviews four men dressed as blushing belles sing a surprisingly moving ‘Always the Bridesmaid’. A popular comedy routine of three women sitting on a pier is included as well as perennial favourite ‘Hold Me Close’ in a South Pacific style staging.
But this is fun for kids (of all ages) and Gang Show director Kim Griffiths brilliantly taps into the longing we all have at strict museums to touch the exotic exhibits. A recreation of Oxford’s finest archives explodes into a UV dance spectacle to ‘Walk the Dinosaur’. Senior Gang bring the proceedings up to date with high tech dance routines to Latino chart music including ‘Genie in a Bottle’ then burst onto the stage busting moves to Run DMC. Yes, ‘It’s like that’ and this close to full house joins in with all the actions at the close of this annual show and sing ‘don’t stop moving to the Gang Show beat’. An emotional new song penned by one of the musical directors has us all waving hands in the air before the Gang Show President takes the stage to praise the amount of work that goes into putting on such a great show. From waving the flag and standing for the national anthem at the beginning this is an evening full of tradition and another excuse to go ‘riding along on a crest of a wave!’