Review: Voices From Across The World

Hey readers!
It's time for my review of Voices From Across The World.
Voices From Across The World' is a showcase of 2 brand new British musicals written by composer and lyricist Tim Thomas. Both shows attempt to tackle a number of important social and environmental issues, such as materialism, pollution, greedy tourism and climate change.

The aspect of Voices From Across The World which really stood out was the show's stellar cast. The actors within the show had an infectious energy which really translated well. It was clear from beginning to end how much the cast were enjoying themselves, which was a true and utter delight to see. Each and every performer put maximum levels of passion and enthusiasm into their performances, and it certainly paid off. The most striking thing about their performances, however, were how many of them had remarkable voices. There were several outstanding singers among the cast, and there were a number of excellent solo-numbers.

In regards to those who stood out, Suzie Aries was a definite highlight. Aires is gifted with a wonderful stage presence, and she was perfectly cast as Miranda. The way in which she presented the caring nature and warm personality of Miranda was very believable, making it easy to connect with the character. Chameli Meir was also outstanding, which was largely as a result of her convincing portrayal of Ganchimaya in the second act. She successfully demonstrated Ganchimaya's innocence, creating a solid characterisation in the process. Meir also had a stunning singing voice, which was evident throughout all of her solos. Last, and certainly not least, Tom Dickerson, as the Narrator, was also exceptional. Whilst the Narrator spends a fair portion of the show on the sidelines, Dickerson really comes into his element in Act Two, when he portrays the money-loving and cold-hearted Captain; a role that he excelled at.

As previously mentioned, Voices From Across The World tells two different stories. The first is a tale of London's homeless community and how they live their everyday lives called 'Ship in a Bottle'. Whilst the story was a little simplistic, it was full of heart and had a good message at its core. I would argue that it was a mostly accurate depiction of life on the streets, and it was nice to see the different bonds that were formed by the homeless community. The second story called 'Tahiti' sees a young couple venture onto a remote island, whereby they learn to live and communicate with their animal counterparts. Whilst the message of the story is well-intentioned, and starts off very strong, it does begin to lose focus a little as it nears its end and was perhaps a little too abstract. Having said that, it was still very well acted, and the actors very successfully portrayed the animals featured in the piece.

Now for my final verdict on Voices From Across The World. I give Voices From Across The World...

I was thoroughly impressed by the performances in Voices From Across The World. There were a handful of truly exceptional performers in this piece, and I am sure many of them have bright futures.

Think it should have got a higher rating? Agree with my rating? Think it should have got a lower rating? If so comment below.

Thanks for reading!

-The Basic Theatre Reviewer