BWW Reviews: WHITE CHRISTMAS, Bristol Hippodrome, November 19 2013

I left the house this evening after a long day at work, and stepped out into the dark, cold evening not feeling my best, but thanks to the Bristol Light Opera Club (BLOC) gang I came home with a smile on my face. Their production this year is Irving Berlin's White Christmas, which brings some festive cheer to the lovely Bristol Hippodrome.

The show is packed full of the much-loved tunes made famous by Bing Crosby and co in the 1954 film, all of which were performed by the BLOC cast with gusto and a clear love of the stage. Stand-out favourites of mine included 'Sisters', 'Falling Out Of Love Can Be Fun', 'Let Me Sing and I'm Happy', and, of course, 'White Christmas', and it was clear that much time, effort and passion had been put into this show.

Special mention goes to the four leads, who were all wonderfully cast, and who truly brought their characters to life. The voices of Vicky Hartland as Betty Haynes and Michael Griffiths as Phil Davis particularly suited the 1950s songs, with Hartland giving her vocals real soul and Griffiths adding some charming impishness to the proceedings. Grace McDonald as Judy Haynes was equally charming and gave a polished performance, while Simon Vardakis gave a sterling turn as misunderstood Bob Wallace. Chris Parslow put a great deal of heart into his General's character, and the supporting cast all won us over and provided some laughs along the way. Faye Banks was perfectly cast as Martha Watson, the General's slightly quirky, long-suffering right-hand woman. Should BLOC ever put on a production of Hairspray, I feel that Banks would make a fantastic Mrs Pingleton/Female Authority Figure!

The band was great, blasting out the songs with energy, and I have to say the set was far better than some national touring productions I've seen. I enjoyed the range of costumes on display, and a dash of winter wonderland magic at the end of the show was a lovely final touch to a fun evening.

So whether you're already in the Christmas spirit, or feeling a bit 'bah humbug!', head on down to the Bristol Hippodrome this week to support local talent and enjoy a festive classic that is guaranteed to make you smile.

White Christmas is playing at the Bristol Hippodrome until Saturday 23 November.

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