top of page
Writer's pictureAll That Dazzles

Review: West End Musical Halloween (Lyric Theatre)

Review by Daz Gale

 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

Many of us have traditions on Halloween – whether it is trick or treating, dressing up for a party or watching a favourite horror movie (Mariah Carey’s Glitter is mine). My Halloween tradition for the last two years has been to head to the Lyric Theatre for West End Musical Halloween. I couldn’t resist the chance to return to that haunt for the third consecutive year so I put on my finest costume  (Ok, it was just a Beetlejuice t-shirt but it did the trick) and excitedly awaited a cast of West End favourites to deliver a mix of musical theatre and beyond. Would I be in for a spooktacular treat or would this year’s instalment leave me screaming BOO (because, ghosts… get it?)

 


Part of the West End Musical concert series that has put on shows at multiple West End theatres for the last few years including Love Songs and Christmas, West End Musical Halloween is brought to you by the team responsible for Musical Con over the last three years, and is hosted by producer Shanay Holmes, dressed impeccably this year as Beetlejuice (putting my t-shirt to shame), kicking off proceedings with ‘When You’re An Addams’ and giving us her best Better Midler with a rousing ‘One Way Or Another’ from Hocus Pocus 2.

 

As Shanay introduced her “leading ghouls” one at a time, several cast members were given the opportunity to revisit some of their past roles with Erin Caldwell bringing back her time as Veronica in Heathers for a rousing ‘Dead Girl Walking’ and Courtney Bowman bringing the house down as she reprised her time as Anne Boleyn in Six with an addictively joyful ‘Don’t Lose Your Head’, ending with the audience continuing the song long after it had finished. Jon Robyns set the bar incredibly high with the first solo of the evening as he delivered a spine-tingling ‘The Music Of The Night’ from The Phantom Of The Opera, showcasing the very best in musical theatre.

 


A highlight of any West End Musical concert is the chance to see unique duets from the cast of West End heavyweights. There were comparatively fewer at this event, but the two we had, both featuring Tobias Turley proved it is quality over quantity. Revisiting his days in Heathers, he joined Erin Caldwell for a cameo on ‘Dead Girl Walking’ before delivering a vocal masterclass on a sensational duet of ‘Suddenly Seymour’ with Courtney Bowman.

 

While everyone on stage delivered incredible performances throughout, one performer well and truly raised the dead with her phenomenal vocals and that is Nathania Ong. Currently playing Eliza in Hamilton, she took on ‘World Burn’ from Mean Girls with a vocal range that seemingly knew no limits, feeling supernatural in its delivery. Returning for ‘Last Midnight’ from Into The Woods, her characterisation was out of this world, terrifying the audience as she made her entrance, before wowing them all once again with a voice that should see her becoming one of the biggest names in the West End in years to come.

 


The six-strong cast of West End favourites were joined by violinist Sally Potterton accompanying them on their numbers and opening each act on her own, with captivating performances, particularly on act two opener where she flawlessly recreated The Exorcist Theme. The cast were also joined by a group of fantastic dancers, haunting the stage as they added flair to the upbeat numbers.

 

This year’s offering felt slightly more random than previous years, deviating from the musical theatre theme (apart from one exception) for the second act as pop music well and truly took over. As songs from the likes of Britney Spears, Eurythmics and Stevie Wonder played out, the Halloween links may have been tenuous to non-existent, but I don’t think that particularly bothered anybody as it delivered the trick of setting the party atmosphere, getting everybody out of their seat as we raced towards the finale. A special mention has to go to Jon Robyns for both of his act two appearances with ‘Monster Mash’ and ‘Ghostbusters’ where he gave us a mix of vocals, characterisation and comedy, ending ‘Monster Mash’ with the immortal line “I’m gonna go and mash myself off”.

 


Part of the charm of any West End Musical concert is the encouragement to get out of your seat, sing and dance. While that may be the kind of thing many don’t particularly enjoy at other West End shows, it is all part of the fun at this concert and always creates an exciting atmosphere as the packed audience become an extension to the cast on stage… even if we didn’t quite manage to hit the dizzying heights of their vocals. At its best, it really does become the most fun you will ever have in a West End theatre without being kicked out.

 

There is a good reason why West End Musical Halloween returns year after year, and that is the joyful and electric atmosphere it creates. Bringing together some of the best in the business, its appeal is that the entertainment stretches beyond the stage, into the audience, bringing the community feel that every West End Musical event does best. We may have Christmas to get through first but if anyone wants me, I’ll be consulting my spell book to race ahead to next year’s Halloween concert.


 

Setlist:

Shanay Holmes, Courtney Bowman, Erin Caldwell, Nathania Ong and Tobias Turley – When You’re An Addams (from The Addams Family)

Jon Robyns – The Music Of The Night (from the Phantom Of The Opera)

Nathania Ong – World Burn (from Mean Girls)

Erin Caldwell – Dead Girl Walking (from Heathers) (featuring Tobias Turley)

Tobias Turley – Grow For Me (from Little Shop Of Horrors)

Erin Caldwell – The Wizard And I (from Wicked)

Tobias Turley and Courtney Bowman – Suddenly Seymour (from Little Shop Of Horrors)

Courtney Bowman – Science Fiction Double Feature (from The Rocky Horror Show)

Nathania Ong – Last Midnight (from Into The Woods)

Shanay Homes – One Way Or Another (from Hocus Pocus 2)

---

Sally Potterton – The Exorcist Theme (Violin solo)

Erin Caldwell – I Put A Spell On You

Jon Robyns – Monster Mash

Courtney Bowman – Don’t Lose Your Head (from Six)

Nathania Ong – Superstition

Erin Caldwell – Toxic

Tobias Turley – Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)

Nathania Ong – Thriller

Jon Robyns – Ghostbusters

Shanay Holmes & Cast – Day O/Jumping The Line

 


West End Musical Halloween played at the Lyric Theatre on 28th October 2024.

West End Musical Christmas plays there on 16th December. Tickets available here.

3 comments

3 komentarai


CBKM BOCU
CBKM BOCU
4 days ago

EPTU Machine ETPU Moulding…

EPTU Machine ETPU Moulding…

EPTU Machine ETPU Moulding…

EPTU Machine ETPU Moulding…

EPTU Machine ETPU Moulding…

EPS Machine EPS Block…

EPS Machine EPS Block…

EPS Machine EPS Block…

AEON MINING AEON MINING

AEON MINING AEON MINING

KSD Miner KSD Miner

KSD Miner KSD Miner

BCH Miner BCH Miner

BCH Miner BCH Miner

Patinka

lucky
lucky
4 days ago

I learned a lot from your blog. If you want to have more fun, you can learn more about old video games. It's going to be fun to play with you again! foodle

Patinka

Ariel wilson
Ariel wilson
5 days ago

A spooktacular Halloween at the Lyric Theatre on West End This promises to be a highly entertaining mash of music and spookiness. Involving performances that capture the very magic behind the world of theater. For students with hope to achieve their respective academic objectives, dissertation consulting services would prove the ideal means through which expert consulting will come along with further better research.

Patinka
bottom of page