Actually Fabulous - 20th anniversary concert from Actually Gay Men's Chorus
– 3 min read
For their 20th anniversary concert, Actually Gay Men’s Chorus in Brighton chose Actually Fabulous as the title of the show. No modesty and none needed.
It’s an ever-surprising choral group under the meticulous and energetic musical direction of Samuel Cousins and with Simon Gray’s immaculate accompaniment, and they brought out many old favourites – and I do not mean members of the chorus!
The icing on this multilayered birthday cake concert was guest soloist Karen Orchin - more of her later.
We were treated to 26 items – some of them with several tunes. Actually has an extensive repertoire that never ceases to surprise and delight you.
Opening with a short and cheeky Sondheim parody, Attend The Tale Of This ‘Ere Mob, they fired all guns with a rumbustious sea shanty Wellerman, rapidly followed and still at sea with an ocean-going medley from Gilbert and Sullivan.
This Is The Moment from Jekyll and Hyde can sometimes seem tedious with its rise in notes every two or three phrases, but not here as the chorus was energetically and palpably evil.
Then they went all religious on us in the marvellous acoustics of St Mary’s Church Kemptown with Vivaldi‘s Gloria, Karl Jenkins’ Benedictus and Parry’s Coronation anthem, I Was Glad. All sung with gusto and a variety of musical light and shade.
For me, Act One’s highlight was Bui Doi - the stunningly emotional and topical song from Miss Saigon about a camp of child refugees, making me instantly think of Gaza. Sean Headley took the solo firmly in his grip, giving us a powerhouse of emotion and humanity. Just brilliant.
Show tunes galore completed the first half with lashings of syrupy Andrew Lloyd Webber, a courageous Man of La Mancha, with Andrew Whitlaw fighting the impossible fight and winning gloriously. And there was what now seems a gay choir favourite, You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hansen, here sung with power and fortitude.
Part Two had an altogether lighter touch and feel to it. There was an outrageous Broadway Baby where Karen Orchin was cast aside by the camp endeavours of Philip Lloyd Davies and Patrick Bullock.
Karen’s soaring and crystal clear top notes made Never Enough from The Greatest Showman truly outstanding as she rose above the glorious harmonies of the chorus.
For Wicked aficionados, there was a joyous medley, led from the front by Samuel Cousins, in a startling emerald frock coat.
Karen was on blockbuster form as she sang Skyfall, once more soaring above the haunting chorus lines. The chorus marched on with the rousing Sussex By The Sea with its unintentionally relevant lyric “now let your hearts be gay.” And they were.
A stunning rendition of Barcelona by Karen and the chorus lifted our hearts. It’s hard to think this ensemble could get any better.
And so the evening drew to a close with a double helping from West Side Story.
Karen was back one last time to give us a spine-tingling Climb Every Mountain. What will the next 20 years bring for this choral group? More joy for sure.
