The Oxford Capitol Theatre has been a centre of our community’s cultural activity for over 100 years.
This weekend, in three shows, it again served as the stage for new stars to shine as they presented “Disney Dazzle: A Revue of Beloved Disney Songs!”
With impeccable memory for lyrics and dance moves, the young performers — nine in total — sang to a welcoming audience of parents and the general public. Hello Oxford took in the Saturday matinee, where some 30 people gathered to watch the show. 57 were on hand at Friday’s show, and Saturday night saw 30 in the audience.
Marion Abbott, Oxford’s MPAL, conducted the two-week theatre camp that brought the kids together Monday to Friday from 9:00am until Noon. In that short amount of time, they learned an impressive list of songs and somehow also absorbed a complex choreography that kept the audience well entertained.
Were their nerves among the cast? Perhaps, but it wasn’t evident to the audience. Everyone had solo songs to perform in addition to their group numbers. It was moving to see these young performers stand alone on stage, in the literal spotlight, and deliver what must certainly have been a performance of their lifetime-to-date!
Most parents who have sat through (multiple times) Disney films with their kids would recognize, if not know by heart, many of the songs presented. From newer films like Moana, the roster weighed heavily upon Disney classics — reflecting Abbot’s own obsession with those films, from “Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It’s Off to Work We Go” from Snow White to “Chim Chim Cheree” from Mary Poppins to “Everybody Wants To Be A Cat” from The Aristocats and so many more.
Reflecting on the ten days of preparation, Abbot says, “I think on the Thursday of the first week, I sent them all their solos because I said to them on the first day, ‘Nobody gets only one solo. Everyone gets lots of solos and everybody gets a big song solo.’ We’re not trying to be like, ‘”‘Oh, you’re the best.’ …everybody had their beautiful time and everybody got to do the short solos, too.”
Sarah Brown led the choreography instruction and served as assistant to Abbot, who in addition to Directing the show, provided piano accompaniment. Lighting was handled by Oxford Recreation’s summer student, Keegan McClary (who has spent the past couple of weeks cleaning out, renovating and painting the dressing rooms below the stage).
While the Main Street Music Society continues with the popular weekly Friday Night jam sessions at the Capitol, it’s wonderful to see new activities under way to engage the youth in Oxford. One never knows just where a Star might be born!
RELATED LINKS
Town of Oxford Recreation
Oxford Capitol Theatre
Main Street Music Society
