Adelaide,Australia

In The Mood Her Majesty’s Theatre October 4, 2016 IN THE MOOD musical revue recreating the songs of the 40s John McBeath, The Advertiser October 6, 2016 The IN THE MOOD musical revue recreating the songs of the Forties marks 23 seasons of a singing, dancing and big band production’s tours of Australia in 2011, 2013 and 2016. From the opening moments when the 13-piece String of Pearls band playing at full strength, marched from the back of the auditorium up on to the stage the high level of professionalism and sheer musical talent never flagged. The six member vocal/dancing ensemble of three couples arrived to launch into an energetic opening medley followed by the bands super-fast tempo version of I Want to Be Happy. The band continued with Take the “A” Train and later delivered faultless arrangements and solos in the styles of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie and others. There were dozens of costume changes and sometimes songs seamlessly changed into others: Skylark morphed into Mood Indigo; La Vie en Rose became The Last Time I Saw Paris. An astonishingly crazed athletic high-speed jitterbug was performed by one couple, and then: “Pearl Harbor changed everything,” as the music moved into the emotions and patriotism of World War II and military uniforms appeared: All The Things You Are, The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B and Over There. A full chorus of Waltzing Matilda was presented with the audience joining in. Then the war was over with On The Sunny Side of The Street. For over two hours this huge nostalgic show held a full house enthralled with its large cast and period costumes, fine big band arrangements and soloists delivering songs of the forties, choreographed dance routines, vocals and sheer American pizzazz.