2002 The Rainbow Concert

SEAHAM Vane Tempest Amateur Operatic Society staged this very enjoyable concert to raise funds. A good idea of the musical director, Enid Jones.

Laura Swinburne, an excellent, young soprano sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow to set the mood for the night, and after that each performing group wore a colour of the rainbow.

Lynsey Day was a red-hot start with Gordon Lindon Bobbing Along as Al Jolson.

The orange group gave us Sunrise, Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof, followed by West Side Story and Sunset Boulevard.

Yellow's contribution was The Sun Whose Rays, from The Mikado, sung by Ruth Southwick and Laura Swinburne. It was a joy to hear.

David Hepple sang You Can Make Magic, from Fame. He's a young man who can make Rainbows of music magic and will surely find fame for himself.

Denis Carter compered the evening and heralded the green section with his Younger Than Springtime. Green magic from Tom Morris and Laura Swinburne was all anyone could ask.

Diane Henderson sang On My Own well from Les Miserables, while Tom Morris, with perfect diction, sang 01' Man River. Both so very blue.

Margaret Keen is as excellent as ever. Her Glamorous Nights earned her much well-deserved applause.

Young Paul Henry played The Phantom with Music of the Night. Michelle Lisgo gave us a superb exhibition of dance. She became a cat. Pure Indigo.

Gillian Best has a good stage presence, I particularly liked I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables. Maurice McShane's Poor Jud is Dead, was fun.

To see so many young people on stage really gladdens the heart. I will remember Jennifer Henderson and Emily Best Sing a Rainbow for a very long time and Ruth Southwick's Whistle Down the Wind enchanted me.

The chorus worked hard. They were on stage., singing every colour very well indeed. Principals always need support of this calibre. Tonight they got it. Everyone gave of their best and it showed. Why, oh why, was it just for one night?

Sonia Foster - Courtesy of Sunderland Echo May 2002