James Productions
JUST BROADWAY!

Dates and Venue November 20 – 22 November, 2014 8pm & 2pm | The Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia Street, New Westminster

Director and Conductor James Bryson Choreographer Melissa Assalone Featured performers Steve Maddock, Tracy Neff, Jennifer Hayes, Diane Lines, Rob Ferguson, Jennifer Hodge

Reviewer Karen Fitzgibbon


The new Anvil Theatre is off to a great start. It is a successful performance that takes us through all the great songs that played on Broadway and some that made it to the big screen. This is a large scale performance with a full orchestra and many performers.

Director, James Bryson creates a wonderful evening of old Broadway hits and dance numbers. Performers bustled back and forth making us feel as though we are standing on the sidewalk in New York. Bryson and his band are impressive.

If you want to hear great voices then here is where you’ll find them. Being partial to Jazz I enjoyed the performance of the sultry sound of Jennifer Hayes. Steve Maddock’s rendition of "This is the Moment" was not only true perfection but the song for which he was born to sing.

The dance numbers were well choreographed by Assalone and the costumes were bright and so 50s.
One thing I note is that not all singers are dancers and not all dancers are singers. It would be a great idea not to put everyone into the same category. Can you imagine Pavarotti dancing while he sang? All the singers are great, but they are not all great dancers.

Just Broadway is a performance worth seeing and I hope that it returns to the beautiful Anvil Centre. I love to see the toes tapping in the audience and the lips moving to the memorable favorites of the past.
The Anvil Centre Theatre is well designed with a beautiful red stage curtain. It does have one flaw and that was the uncomfortable seats with virtually no leg room.

© 2014 Karen Fitzgibbon