Clacton Arts & Literary Society

Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category

A verb which is rarely used outside the manufacture of
ducting and sometimes in public lavatories- ”are you well
vented, madam?”
I chuckled as I thought of the declination of this verb-
`I vent, you vent, he /she vents`-`ah, the possibilities are
endless!!`
“So, what’s this got to do with the Arts and Lits trip to
Cambridge and a subsequent boat trip, with cream tea
included on the historic river Cam afterwards” ,I hear you
ask?
Well, these were the words uttered as our leader,
`Commander` Keith Baines, with his usual minute attention
to detail checked to see if the air conditioning on the coach
was operating throughout!!?

The day started wonderfully, and everything worked
seamlessly as a well oiled sewing machine (how’s that for a
strange analogy?) but we soon came to rather an abrupt
stop as we swung on to the dreaded A12 and were
confronted with a slow moving traffic which gradually got
slower until it stopped and we waited for quite some
considerable time whilst the emergency services attended
to what was probably quite an horrific traffic accident.
We prayed for the people immediately concerned and
hoped that there were no fatalities.

We then moved on towards Cambridge with about 2 hours
for our own pursuits-I choose to find a quiet spot in the
park near where we alighted from the coach, and eat my
sandwiches-I have just had my elderly mother staying with
me for a week from the Midlands and needed a `quiet
period` (she’s eighty five this year and was, until recently,
taking `meals on wheels around to the old folk!!!)others
chose to peruse the many places of interest in Cambridge-
I desperately wanted to visit the famous King`s college
chapel-but was just too tired (maybe another trip-poor old
girl!)

At the allotted time we re-boarded the coach and were
soon underway to the appointed berth where we would go
on the river boat-it was indeed `tranquillity realised` –this
scene that has changed little over the centuries and that
mirrors quintessential `Merry England`s` traditional way of
life with boarding school, set curriculum including rowing
and (currently)`wow, how many bicycles there are now in
this world renowned city(Robin hood would have been
suitably impressed!!?) .

Many rowing boats passed us with crews calmly focussing
only on the directions of the cox at the helm.
In other places more sedate river activities progressed
with those engaged in punting
All the time there was a very informative commentary.
All too soon it was over and we returned to the welcoming
countryside of Essex-at this time lush with delicious fauna.
Yet another `feather in the cap` of the society and King
John(Keith)Baines and his `wench` who organised this trip!
Miss Jennifer Kersey

The Glen Miller Story-Sue Greenway and her 17 piece orchestra.

What can I realistically add to what has already been said about Sue Greenway and her wonderful band of musicians-every single one of them a virtuoso in his/her own right?

Tony Jacobs-a very necessary ingredient in this `home baked pie`-to not have him involved would be like a car without a steering wheel-he sort of binds(not as per constipated )the proceedings together and gives direction to any project he is involved with and his obvious deep knowledge and informed comment about the subject is truly marvellous.
To say nothing of his handsome good looks, velvet voice and his lovely endearing sense of humour-sometimes showing the wicked- (current context) side of his nature!

Eleanor Keegan-her sumptuous vocal range with rich timbres aptly complimented Tony (in their duets) and suitably echoed the days when this type of music was all the rage.

Another wonderful evening of music from the era when melodies reigned supreme-the views expressed within the lines of the songs are still as relevant today and tunes composed then are instantly recognised now,  many decades later.
Indeed some of our better known young, contemporary vocalists have these `standards` in their repertoire and they are regarded as `staple diet!`

This music will never die and the likes of Sue are to be congratulated that, in these times of austerity and where just about anything can pass(in some circles) as `good` she is travelling around and keeping this outstanding genre alive.
Well, this concert brings to a close another very successful and varied season of events (except for the ever important AGM on 21/3/2011)-all involved are to be heartily congratulated for their continued efforts on our behalf.

We eagerly wait to see what thrills have been `lined up` for the forthcoming season, starting again in October.
In the meantime, several excursions have been planned to keep the society’s endeavours in our minds and agenda.
Jennifer Kersey(miss)

‘The Glenn Miller Story’

The final presentation of the 2010/2011 season ensured that the society’s programme ended on a high note with a foot tapping evening from Sue Greenaway and her seventeen piece band, ably assisted by singer and compere Tony Jacobs and guest singer Eleanor Keenan. This new show told the fascinating story of Glenn Miller and put his music in the context of the Swing Era by celebrating some of the other contemporary classic big bands. Sue, an accomplished Saxophonist and member of various big bands has brought  together a musical ensemble of accomplished musicians who displayed their skill in a programme crammed full of Glen Miller standards in the first half and a selection from the repertoires of other Big Bands in the 1940s and 1950s in the second half.

The programme began with a rousing version of ‘Sweet Sue’ which segued into that Miller standard ‘Little Brown Jug’ comprising some effective solos from individual members. The number ‘Russian Patrol’ was another showcase number with some very good band solos and it was very evident how much the band was enjoying performing. The band’s zenith in the first half was ‘Bugle Call Rag’ which featured a stunning drum solo from Neil Bullock…

The second half continued the rousing high standard and we were fortunate to hear a trumpet solo by Annette Brown on ‘Star Dreams’ which was excellent and this number was a precursor to ‘Charmaine’ with a nice arrangement of slurpy saxophones from the front row. Sue herself gave an impressive solo on ‘Poinciana’ and the programme culminated with that well known composition ‘In the Mood’ which was a fitting finale to the evening and generated a justified encore.
The musical prowess of Sue and her Band was indeed impressive and it was gratifying to see and hear seventeen musicians who so obviously enjoyed what they were performing. The singing credits to Tony Jacobs and Eleanor Keenan were well deserved, although perhaps some more involvement from Eleanor might have been preferable. This was a great end to the current season and members left with a spring in their step ready to face the chill Clactonian winds.
The evening was sponsored by GCS Alarms of Clacton.

Robert Pearce
Locum Press Officer

‘Weird Creatures’
 

The Society’s 15th Presentation last Monday evening was entitled ‘Weird Creatures’ and featured Nick Baker, Biologist, Naturalist and TV Presenter. Nick is well known from the BBC programmes ‘The Really Wild Show’ and ‘CBBC’s Spring Watch’ and more recently Channel 5’s ‘Weird Creatures’. Nick’s love of insects and reptiles began at an early age and his naturalist leanings were formalised when he attended Exeter University and achieved a good degree in Biology. Having worked at the university he left to begin a career in television and as a writer.

Nick’s engaging personality and the early rapport with members drove the evening on at a good space and we were treated to a series of images, videos and anecdotes surrounding some of the weird creatures that are so dear to him. His hunt in the cave complex of Postojna in Slovenia for the Olm was told amusingly, and he has the ability to impart considerable quantities of information about particular species. Similarly his search for the Hellbender Salamander (one of the largest amphibians found today) was interesting and the images shown confirmed its placing as a weird creature.

From a personal viewpoint it was Nick’s visit to Mexico City and Lake Xochimilco to search for the last wild Axolotl that encapsulated the importance of such expeditions. The Lake(now reduced to a turgid foul smelling canal) is the only wild home of this amphibian and whilst it is facing the ever increasing encroachment of humans from Mexico City, the creatures are also under threat from the introduction of African Tilapia and Asiatic Carp which are used as food fish.

Nick’s presentation style is very engaging and he easily imparts explanations as to why these animals appear so weird to us and how their appearance and habits are actually born out of an evolutionary need to tackle some unique habitats and solutions. This is delivered with a generous helping of irreverence and humour which cannot hide his love for these creatures. The evening was an unqualified success with its amalgam of adventure, conservation, and just bizarreness.
The evening was sponsored by Tendring Reuse & Employment Enterprise.

Robert Pearce Locum Press Officer

An evening of musical delights 21/2/2011.

With their demeanour, in another life I’m convinced that David Watkins(harp)
was a kindly woodcarver(named Giuseppe!?) working away in his damp little
basement room(in Scandinavia) and that Michael Bochmann (violin) was the
result of his ?????labourios endeavours!

`Ah, the musings of an old gal with warped mind!?`
Seriously, their great musical dexterity and minute attention to detail was
breathtaking in the extreme and their solo presentations/ interpretations
were inspired! These wonderful artistes with much genuine humility and their
ability to coax incredible musical sounds from their instruments gave us an
evening we will savour for a long time to come. The dazzling finger work and
bowing of Michael (who informed us that his violin, made in Italy about 300
years ago, had a very varied life and was now safely and proudly in his
possession!) and the beautiful and sympathetic tones of David at the harp,
who told us that his much coveted instrument was willed to him by his
teacher- all enhanced this lovely evening.

They were joined by Jane Leslie McKenzie (who told us coyly that she was not
about to reveal the age of her instrument!?)-slight in stature but with a voice
that could `charm the birds from the trees` and easily be heard (un-amplified )
many blocks from the theatre, even on a foggy winter’s evening!
I must admit that this combination of instruments initially made me wonder
what we were `in line for` and how they would fill an evening’s programme-was
I ever pleasantly surprised!

A very varied programme with some music that we knew well(the Swan, Ave
Maria etc) and others pieces that the musicians themselves arranged for
violin and harp which we were glad to be introduced to-I particularly liked the
trio’s poignant `Dido’s lament`(used on each Remembrance Day service from
the cenotaph, in London.)

The choice of curtain backdrop colour (nothing to do with the society) was a
little unfortunate (red or blue would have been better) as, from where I was
sitting, the harpist occasionally looked like he was playing an imaginary
instrument as the gold was exactly the same as the harp-but this didn’t really
detract from what was another exceptional night at the Arts and Lits.

Jennifer Kersey.