The Great British Bake Off - Review
Ready, Steady, Bake!
This Easter, The Island Savoyards are getting their hands dirty as they take on a very modern musical; The Great British Bake Off. Fortunately, nobody is left with egg on their face, as our much-loved Shanklin theatre group pulled off a showstopper!
As the curtains open at the start of the show, it's impossible not to notice how spectacular the set looks. Clearly a very great deal of care and attention has been put into bringing the Bake Off tent to life, and it’s a credit to the technical team who work so hard behind the scenes. Despite some slightly indecisive curtains, the technical elements went off without a hitch, and the cast worked beautifully with, and among, the various moving elements. In particular, the song “Slap It Like That” demonstrated Joe Alabaster’s masterful choreography, mixing levels, props, dance, and blocking to bring to life the chaos of a kitchen film set.
Making his debut as director, Jake Alabaster is responsible for the production’s charm; clearly the cast have great chemistry and have been encouraged to explore their characters authentically. But equally worth praise is Rosie Sales as the vocal musical director. The harmonies demonstrated throughout the performance are lightning in a bottle. It’s rare to find such clarity of delivery and attention to detail. Bravo to Rosie and every singer on the stage who put in the hard work ahead of opening night, for a truly magical sound.
Of course, the performers themselves deserve a mention. Do not miss this collection of Island vocal talent; these singers are absolutely outstanding and work together in a stunning blend. Without exception, every single role is sung by a very talented performer, and there are some familiar names amongst the cast list that theatregoers may recognise. Holly Gardiner, playing Gemma, had us melting like butter with her adorable charm and powerhouse singing. Ellie Warne was devilishly cruel as Izzy, and brought the house down with her pristine vocals. George Sales played Hassan with an incredibly consistent and very impressive accent, not to mention a deeply moving vocal quality; definitely one to watch for the future! A special mention to Maisie Walker-Green (playing Lily on Thursday and Saturday) for hilarious comedic timing. It feels impossible not to rave about all of these wonderful characters and performers, as the attention and talent each one has received shines out of the stage. Even the chorus, an addition compared to the West End original, added so much energy and atmosphere... and those girls can dance!
Make sure you’re not the missing ingredient this Easter. Our Island is host to such a wealth of talent and dedication, and it’s right on your doorstep. Put simply, you must go and see for yourself!