REVIEW: Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus @ The Oil Shed

The roar of approval that surged from the audience when Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus took to their beachfront stage can  have left the singers in no doubt how welcome back they were in front of a live audience.

In the final days of restrictions the chorus had put together a concert of solos and duets, but this was the full force of choral singing and they rose to the occasion.

Under the direction of Joe Paxton they revisited some material but gave us some new treats too. Four soloists featured but the strength in numbers of the ensemble truly raised our spirits. Opening with the apt Just Can’t Get Enough, Kieran Moore  gave us the Muppet cheerfulness of Rainbow Connection, and then there was the dark, slightly sinister Confide In Me.

Even more sinister-sounding was Cloudbusting, though its lyric is one of hopefulness. Andrew Farr gave us a vibrant, energetic City of Stars – a song of longing for love. And the chorus followed up with a spirited harmonious Like A Prayer and up tempo Respect – and respect to them for singing it.

Andy Williams was on top Tom Jones form, with his little hip swinging dance in Delilah , with accompanist Tim Nail  running furiously up and down the keyboard. The Oil Shed accoustic is problematical and more sound reinforcement would have helped us to hear the low, quiet sections of Rise Like A Phoenix, but when the chorus went full throttle it was a spine-tingling experience.

Best number of the evening – for me anyway – was Sadao Udea’s powerfully emotive You Will Be Found from the wonderful musical Dear Evan Hansen. He held the audience in the palm of his hand – truly magic!

And the choir was on the top of its game with It’s A Sin and gave a new Queer resonance to Secret Love from Calamity Jane – altogether a triumphant return. Look out for their Christmas offering at Brighton Dome on 4 December . Tickets at brightongm.com

Running order:

Just Can’t Get Enough

Kieran M – Rainbow Connection

Confide in me

Cloudbusting

Andrew F – City Of Stars

Like A Prayer

Respect

Andy W – Delilah

Madness

Rise Like A Phoenix

Sadao U – You Will Be Found

It’s A Sin

You Haven’t Seen The Last Of Me

Secret Love

Chair’s Speech

Encore: All The Lovers