24th November 2011

DORCHESTER: That's entertainment at St Mary's Church

By Anita Harries

St Mary’s Church in Dorchester is a magnificent church, but like all of our wonderful buildings it costs more than a few pounds to keep it going.

To help plug a few holes, an evening of music, song, and dance entitled “That’s Entertainment” was organised by church stalwart Adrian Downton, and entertainment it certainly was.

Packed full of local talent, every participant gave freely of their time to bring a show that had an appreciative audience clapping and singing in the aisles.

The irrepressible Allan Knott was the “warm-up” act, with his own particular brand of humour interspersed with a great deal of singing and more than a little audience participation.

Two excellent choirs took to the stage, each performing quite beautifully yet with their own particular styles.

Voices echoed around the church as the Encore Singers began with a medley by Howard Goodall and finished with a tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The theme tune from Blackadder was given the Encore treatment and prised many a smile from the audience, whilst the finale from Phantom of the Opera raised the rafters and ended their offering on a high.

The Harmonious Funk Choir, a community choir who sing purely for fun, wowed those listening with their versions of Let It Be, Leonard Cohen’s moving Hallelujah, Build Me Up Buttercup, and Lean On Me. Superb, a different tempo entirely, the

Dorian String Quartet brought a more relaxed atmosphere to the proceedings, a classical interlude each side of the interval which included the well-known Arrival of the Queen of Sheba.

Elegantly played, they portrayed the true professionalism we have come to expect from these talented musicians.

One of the highlights of the evening was without doubt the incredible piano playing of 22-year-old John Wilson. A self-taught pianist, he is unable to read or write music, keeping everything inside his head. Indeed two of the remarkable pieces he played were only composed in the two days leading up to his performance. This young man must be heard to be believed. And he has only been playing the piano for four years.

The youngest performer of the evening was soloist Clara Tucker. Accompanying herself on the piano, she delivered her own take on two modern pieces, singing confidently and quite beautifully.

Just Dance brought a touch of ballet to the church. Fresh from rehearsing in the church hall where they hold their classes, the young ladies and one young man pirouetted across the stage in a rainbow of colours, evoking a sense of calm and dancing incredibly well in a somewhat restricted space.

The well-known voice of soprano singer Sarah Best lifted the roof from its beams, beginning the second half and providing the final performance of the evening. Her magnificent voice paid just tribute to the amazing acoustics of St Mary’s Church, treating classical, popular and comic numbers with equal respect.

This was a superb evening showcasing the very best of our local musicians. It was thoroughly enjoyed by audience and participants alike, and raised some much needed funds to keep St Mary’s in one piece for a little longer.

PICTURE 1: The incredible pianist that is John Wilson

PICTURE 2: Allan Knott performing as only Allan Knott can do

PICTURE 3: The young ladies of Just Dance take to the stage

PICTURE 4: The Encore Singers with their tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber