[AD – PR invite*]
★★★★
In my first review of the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe, I headed to theSpaceUK to watch Oxford University’s mixed a cappella choir ‘The Oxford Alternotives’, in their 12th year of performing at the festival. Having adored the Pitch Perfect films, I became aware of the presence of the genre at the Fringe on my first visit in 2022. Skip forward two years and it was one of the first shows that I pencilled in for 2024, keen to fit some a cappella into my festival schedule. Led by Musical Director and angelic soprano Hattie Twigger-Ross, the group’s show ‘A Cappella Off the Rails’ covers a plethora of artists and film soundtracks, showcasing music from the 70s to the present day in a 1 hour set.
Show format
‘A Cappella Off the Rails!’ combines musical arrangements, choreography, insights into what goes into an a cappella show and personal anecdotes about their members. The strengths lie in the dynamic musical numbers, the rich harmonies and the fascinating explanations about the technicalities of the genre, with the scripted sections a little cheesy and somewhat not needed. With an appreciation that these segments are included to make the audience smile and link the different songs, personally I believe that the group would be better off focusing more on sharing the details of the genre, which they currently provide tasters of.
Musical styles and numbers
The production features a range of music styles, from film soundtracks to pop hits. There are various medleys, not limited to Barbie and Frozen, with the latter including musical numbers from the first and second films. The decision to focus on some of the lesser known tracks in Frozen, notably ‘Lost in the Woods’ and ‘Some Things Never Change’, is much appreciated, and helps showcase the depth of the source material. The arrangement also sees the seamless blending of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez’s renowned songs, turning this section into an exciting celebration of the popular Disney property.
Standout performances
The alto Grace Rompotis’ solo in ‘Killer Queen’ is a highlight, with their vocal tone taking the performance to new heights. Their voice stands out in some of the earlier tracks, but comes into its own during the Queen number, drawing the audience in with every note. Grace is sure to go onto great things, with such a strong, effortless vocal.
Another standout is the final mashup of ‘It’s Raining Men’ and ‘Holding Out For A Hero’, which is led by Wally McCabe and Lara Arencibia Pender. They each perform individual solo sections earlier in the show, but it is when they get together that the real magic happens and you appreciate the extent of their talents. Lara’s Weather Girls-inspired vocal can only be described as powerful, radiating the impact of the original record.
A delightful hour of a cappella
‘A Cappella Off the Rails!’ is an uplifting and enjoyable musical showcase. Overall in my opinion, the group is at their strongest in the lower-pitch arrangements, providing room for the singers to use their vocal power to captivate audiences in the intimate Fringe venue. The group are incredibly talented and it is evident in the show how much work they have put into crafting their collective sound. You can catch the choir in action until Saturday 10 August at theSpaceTriplex – Big (Thrust). Performances start at 16:05 and last minute tickets can be purchased via the festival website.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
*My ticket for ‘Oxford Alternotives: A Cappella Off the Rails!’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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