THE RIVERTONES VARIETY SHOW
Kings College Theatre, Taunton
Saturday, 25th October 2014
(a review compiled with the help of several members of the 240+ capacity audience)
The Rivertones Harmony Chorus in Taunton recently held a Variety Show at King’s College Theatre with guests, Red Rock Harmony from Teignmouth and the Taunton Ukulele Strummers Club (TUSC).
After some humourous tongue-twisting audience participation, the ladies from Red Rock opened the show with some brilliant singing and harmonising with Fields of Gold being outstanding.
The Rivertones and the Red Rock Chorus singing 8-part harmony
There then followed a short comedy sketch featuring 8 ‘cowboys’ singing the praises of ‘Ragtime Cowboy Joe.’
Taunton Ukulele Strummers Club really impressed with their wonderful style of singing and playing. Their version of Five Foot Two and Wonder of You really impressed.
The Taunton Ukulele Strummers Club
The Rivertones, totally professional as always, appeared “flash mob” style singing Catch a Falling Star. The up-tempo Hello Mary Lou was also a very popular choice. The highlight of the first half was a haunting performance of Can You Feel The Love Tonight.
The Rivertones singing ‘Hello Mary Lou’
TUSC opened the second half with a show-stopping medley with Hi Ho Silver Lining particularly well received and left the stage to deafening applause.
A guest quartet airing it’s first public performance featured the Rivertones’ own Musical Director Peter Gover, Murray Porter, Kevin Coughlan and Colin Harlow singing a wonderful version of Blue Velvet.
Red Rock Harmony then sang a section containing the contrasting emotive In My Room and up-beat Nine ‘til Five.
Red Rock Harmony at their very best
A heart tugging moment of the evening came with the oldest member of the British Association of Barbershop Singers, Glyn Evans who lives in Wellington, singing the baritone part of Heart Of My Heart as part of an octet along with the full chorus of the Rivertones for a possible last time. Glyn is their Life President and founder member. The audience loved it. He will be 100 years old in February.
99-year-old Glyn Evans singing with the Rivertones possibly for the last time
The Rivertones followed later with an outstanding rendition of If I Give My Heart to You before joining Red Rock for eight -part songs, And So To Sleep and I Wonder Why.
The finale saw all groups singing Amarillo, with Peter Gover amazingly conducting the groups totalling nearly 100 performers and the capacity audience too! The standing ovation was a deserved end to a magnificent evening.
Guest quartet: Murray Porter, Musical Director Peter Gover, Colin Harlow and Kevin Coughlan
The Rivertones are delighted to be making a donation to the Taunton Street Pastors from part of the proceeds from the evening.
The Show – an outstanding success and a very rare opportunity to see a real Variety Show in the Taunton area – was directed by Murray Porter and produced by Graham Blight.
The Rivertones, Red Rock Chorus and the Taunton Ukulele Strummers Club sing ‘Amarillo’ as their finale