David Reid and Lucette Cargill Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
The 'Musical Treats' promised were duly delivered in quarters at the Alhambra Inn, Tucker Avenue, St. Andrew, on Sunday night, by unamplified voices to the accompaniment of mostly piano, with recorder and percussion at points.
It was not a matter of quarters of the same whole, though, as the Jamaica Musical Theatre Company served up music from the musicals Porgy and Bess and South Pacific in the first half and songs lamenting separation as well as Latin numbers in the second to an audience which occupied most of the chairs provided.
It was down south first with Porgy & Bess, June Lawson's opening Summertime was followed by David Reid's playful delivery of Woman Is a Sometime Thing, a mournful final "oh" met with chuckles.
Winston Davidson started Bess You Is My Woman Now to a somewhat impassive-looking Lucette Cargill, who was eventually won over, the pair joining hands and ending with a hug and a smile. The percussions made a first appearance on I Got Plenty a Nuttin, Donald Duff's raised right forefinger emphasising I got my song.
Piano's tempo
Donald Duff
David Reid's right foot beat a tattoo and matched taps with scatting on the floor as the piano's tempo picked up in It Aint Necessarily So, which questioned the Bible, chuckles greeting "Methuselah lived 900 years, who wants that living when no gal will give in to a man?"
Winston Davidson ended the songs from Porgy & Besswith the lover's promise O Lawd, I'm on My Way.
Concert producers Donald Duff's narrative repositioned 'Musical Treats' from South Carolina to the South Pacific, Jodi Holung's bright, focused eyes matching the mood of A Cockeyed Optimist. Some Enchanted Evening, delivered by Duff, was more sombre and he noted a change of key at the end. Stephanie Hazel, not the strongest but an expressive singer, ended Bali Ha'I on a high, as did Debbie Campbell on I'm In Love With a Wonderful Guy. After This Nearly Was Mine there was applause as Holung, who should have come just before on the programme, ended the trip to the South Pacific on a gleeful note with Happy Talk, stepping side to side to beam with the audience as she sang.
After the intermission Lisa White on recorder made a beautifully plaintive start, before the piano and voice came in for Yvonne Miller to deliver Oh Danny Boy. The songs lamenting separation came from several countries, the recorder and piano also being a good combination on Ye Banks and Braes from Scotland, Come Back To Sorrento coming from Italy.
Imaginary tears
Debbie Campbell performs 'I am in Love with a Wonderful Guy' at the Jamaica Musical Theatre Company (JMTC) in association with The Alhambra Inn presents Concert Series 2006-2007, 'Musical Gifts', held at Alhambra Inn, Tucker Avenue on Sunday, March 4. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Debbie Campbell sang Farewell To Thee with a smile and David Reid put drama into Wata Come a Me Eye, the Jamaican song getting slow treatment which ended with him taking out a handkerchief and dabbing imaginary tears, to delighted laughter from the audience. Visits to Russia and Cuba via Somewhere My Love and Siempre en Mi Corazon completed the separation songs, John McFarlane remaining at the lectern for the latter to enter the final and Latin quarter with Siboney. Percussions combined with piano as h with Duff, who did Tango of the Roses, returning for Noche Azul and Duff following with Yours, obviously a favourite as he was accompanied by the low singing of members of the audience, many swaying in their seats.
'Musical Treats' ended with the David Reid and Lucette Cargill smiling at each other before Amigos para Siempre, the chorus loosely translating the title into the English of "you will always be my friend".
The pair's voices climbed higher and higher together, then slowed hitting and holding the Spanish refrain one last time to bring the concert to a close.
Accompanists for the evening were Dorothy Degazon, Livingston Burnett and Kamla Hamilton.
