Out There, Union Theatre

Saw this tonight and loved it. Whatever the story lacked (and I agree that was the weakest element) was made up for by the score. I found it hauntingly beautiful in places, with my only slight criticism being that the vocal was sometimes overwhelmed by the band (all two pieces of it) in the softer moments, particularly when cast members were facing away from me.

The seating layout was different to my last visit to the new space, with two rows down the side of the performance space opposite the staircase. This was effectively on stage seating and put you very close to the action, though also in the spotlight at times as westendwendy noted! Not that the ever far from the action at the Union...

But leaving aside the quirky story, the cardboard set (I work for a packaging manufacturer so I felt quite at home!), the cut down band and the occasional dazzling... oh my the VOICES. When the full cast sang together, in that contained space, they were just stunning (with special mention to Neil Moors, who I last saw in Sasha Regan's all male Pinafore, whose voice quite literally gave me goosebumps). I'm a sucker for massed voices - the beauty of that sound alone is enough to make me cry, but throw in a tale of redemption nicely played by the three generations of Carters and it's a sure thing!