After spending many a Hallows Eve indoors watching Tim Burton films, I decided it was time break the cycle by going to the West End Musical Halloween concert. Putting on a last minute red makeup look while typing away on my work laptop, I rushed my way to the Lyric Theatre as, to put it bluntly, it pissed down with rain.
That being said, read my review now to see why I had a spooktacular time at my first visit to one of West End Musical Brunch’s concerts!
West End Musical Halloween
Cast
- Shanay Holmes
- Courtney Bowman
- Tosh Wanogho-Maud
- Sophie Isaacs
- Luke Bayer
- Matthew Jeans
- Sally Potterson
Rating: ★★★★★
What did I think of West End Musical Halloween?
To cut to the chase, this concert was a ghoulishly glamorous celebration of all things stagey and Halloween. Hostess with the mostest Shanay Holmes immediately set the bar high with an energetic version of I Put A Spell On You (the Hocus Pocus remix of course), with the next two hours being filled with fun, showtunes and some pleasant surprises. And I’m not just talking about special guest the Red Death Phantom himself (AKA the winner of Musical Con’s Cosplay Competition), fittingly sat in Box 5.
What was the setlist like?
I think what I loved about the West End Musical Halloween setlist was its diversity. We got the classics including Little Shop of Horrors, The Phantom of the Opera and The Rocky Horror Show along with newer/lesser known horror musicals that haven’t made their way to in the West End (yet). In fact, three songs from Jekyll & Hyde popped up courtesy of Courtney Bowman, Matthew Jeans and Tosh Wanogho-Maud, funnily making this the second concert I attended this year that featured This Is The Moment. There were also surprise appearances of Pulled from The Addams Family and Dead Mom from Beetlejuice sung by the phenomenal Sophie Isaacs, so there was something every musical theatre fan could enjoy.
What I also enjoyed about the setlist was the audience being given full rein to take part. Instead sitting down and applauding at the appropriate times, we were encouraged to sing along, dance and do audience partici……pation. With highlights including an eager Rocky Horror fan sat near me yelling the iconic ‘SAY IT!’ during Luke Bayer’s very sultry version of Sweet Transvestite, Tosh Wanogho-Maud leading a singalong of Ghostbusters and Courtney Bowman getting us to say the Six Queen’s lines back to her during Don’t Lose Ur Head, it’s say to say we achieved Shanay Holmes’ goal of bringing down the Lyric Theatre’s roof.
Of course I saved the best audience participation moment to last. Something I can cross off my musical geek bucket list, I finally got to dance the Time Warp in an audience filled with musical fans. Was it inevitable given that the concert was called West End Musical Halloween? Yes. Did I have so much fun that I didn’t care if I looked silly? Bloody yes!
Were there any standout moments?
Every performer, dancer and musician in this concert was phenomenal at West End Musical Halloween, with many songs showing off their crazy pipes and dance skills. Just a few moments I absolutely loved in the music department include Luke Bayer’s beautiful version of Frozen The Musical’s Monster, a bold and brash version of Little Shop of Horrors’ Feed Me from Tosh Wanogho-Maud and Sophie Isaac’s version of Touch-a Touch-a Touch-a Touch me that had her go into full Janet mode.
It wasn’t just the singers who were given the spotlight at West End Musical Halloween. Opening both acts was violinist Sally Potterton with hypnotic versions of Hocus Pocus’ Come Little Children and the Halloween theme. Also joining Matthew Jeans in a duet of The Phantom of the Opera and Tosh Wanogho-Maud for the Ghostbusters theme, her way with a violin was nothing short of beautiful. We also had dancers in the mix including zombies breaking into The Backstreet Boys’ Everybody with Luke Bayer (yes, I did the hand waving I always do at & Juliet) and Shanay Holmes doing the iconic Thriller dance without missing a beat.
Speaking of, I think what made West End Musical Halloween come full circle was act two’s final song. Arguably the definitive Halloween bop, Shanay Holmes ended the night with Michael Jackson’s Thriller, doing the iconic dance without missing a beat. While indeed a Halloween staple, it’s also the song that is named for the musical Shanay made her West End debut in many years ago. A musical which was housed in the Lyric Theatre for over a decade.
I have a feeling that West End Musical Halloween will become a new tradition for me. Filled with ghosts, ghouls, glitter and glamour, this concert was exactly what I needed to lift my spirits, especially knowing it’s from a company led by black creators Shanay Holmes and husband Chris Steward. We need more people like them who uplift and celebrate theatre’s diversity, so going to West End Musical Halloween was the least I could do to support them and the industry. If I can squeeze it in, I plan on going to their upcoming Christmas concert and once I finally find a space available (and people to go with), I will definitely go to a West End Brunch!
Have you ever been to one of West End Musical Brunch’s events? Did you go to West End Musical Halloween? Be sure to comment below!
Setlist
Act One
- Come Little Children (Hocus Pocus) – Sally Potterton
- I Put A Spell On You (Hocus Pocus) – Shanay Holmes
- Good and Evil (Jekyll & Hyde) – Courtney Bowman
- Pulled (The Addams Family) – Sophie Isaacs
- The Phantom of the Opera (The Phantom of the Opera) – Matthew Jeans feat. Sally Potterton
- I Need To Know (Jekyll & Hyde) – Tosh Wanogho-Maud
- Suddenly Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors) – Shanay Holmes and Matthew Jeans
- Don’t Lose Ur Head (Six) – Courtney Bowman
- This Is The Moment (Jekyll & Hyde) – Matthew Jeans
- Monster (Frozen The Musical) – Luke Bayer
- Dead Mom (Beetlejuice) – Sophie Isaacs
- The Last Midnight (Into The Woods) – Shanay Holmes
Act Two
- Halloween Theme (Halloween franchise) – Sally Potterton
- Little Shop of Horrors (Little Shop of Horrors) – Shanay Holmes
- Touch-a Touch-a Touch-a Touch Me (The Rocky Horror Show) – Sophie Isaacs
- Feed Me (Little Shop of Horrors) – Tosh Wanogho-Maud
- Sweet Transvestite (The Rocky Horror Show) – Luke Bayer
- Bat Out of Hell (Bat Out of Hell) – Matthew Jeans
- Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) (& Juliet) – Luke Bayer
The Time Warp (The Rocky Horror Show) - Ghostbusters (Ghostbusters) – Tosh Wanogho-Maud feat. Sally Potterton
- Thriller (Thriller Live)
Encore
- Jump in the Line (Beetlejuice The Musical)
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