ANOTHER MAGICAL EVENING

June 2001 Table of Contents

ANOTHER MAGICAL EVENING
Jack Hardy

The Cultural Society of Abaco presented another magical evening of music at Alton Lowe's Garden Theatre in Black Sound, Green Turtle Cay, on 11th May. Fifty-eight members of the Keys Chorale from Key West performed beneath the stars to a capacity audience that remained spellbound from start to finish - almost three hours.

The evening started with a spirited rendition of March On, Bahamaland followed by the Star Spangled Banner and Battle Hymn of the Republic. Suitably warmed up, the chorale then performed a series of classical works by Beethoven, Mozart, Dett and Orff. Then the fun started.

The whole of the middle section of the show was taken up with solos, duets, small singing groups and musical skits backed up by the choir. It started with a medley of songs from the 40's: Chattanooga Choo Choo, Over There and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. These were followed by selections from a number of Broadway musicals: Camelot, The Sound of Music, Oklahoma, South Pacifi My Fair Lady, A Little Night Music, The Wizard of Oz, Show Boat, Brigadoon and Porgy and Bess. The highlights for me were the performances of Dean Walters singing If I Were a Rich Man, Clinton Curtis rendering a Camelot medley and the male members of the chorale performing Old Man River.

A selection of opera pieces followed, highlighted by Melissa Goins Tausche's Un Bel Di Vedromo from Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Then followed a rather eclectic mix of songs ranging from The Beatles and Rolf Harris to Dolly Parton and Harry Belafonte. The highlights of the third hour included Amazing Grace accompanied by John Kreinces on bagpipes and The Prayer sung by Libby and Clinton Curtis. What a voice and what a presence this young man has. There was a very special presentation of Missa Luba, a Congolese mass with Quint Lange featured as the drummer. The evening ended, appropriately, with Marta Keen's Homeward Bound.

Altogether there were 36 items on the programme featuring more than 50 songs, more than enough to satisfy every taste. The Keys Chorale was directed by Emily Boyd Lowe and the busiest man of the evening was pianist Joseph Wilt. It was clear that the members of the chorale enjoyed themselves immensely and exuded great fun during the humorous songs and sketches. The soloists were very talented and contributed to an unforgettable evening of music.

Prior to the show a plaque and proclamation was delivered by William Seeker, President of the Florida Keys Community College, on behalf of the Mayor of Key West. New Plymouth and Key West are sister communities and several members of the Keys Chorale descend from Green Turtle Cay. Director Emily Boyd of the show for being such an appreciative audience and voiced the hope that the chorale would return to Green Turtle Cay sometime in the future. Make it soon, Emily. Make it soon.

May 2001 Table of Contents