Pinder Hall was packed to capacity on Wednesday evening for a performance by Barbershopera  -  four guys and a girl  -  in their latest show called

“Apocalypse No!”

The skills and originality of this group have been lauded by all the major newspapers and theatre critics since they won the award for the ‘Best New Musical’ and ‘Best Lyrics’ at the Edinburgh Festival first in 2007 and then the two following years with two new shows in the same vein.  

This recognition brought them several bookings in London’s West End followed by national (and one international) tours. They have recently been invited to perform at the New York Musical Festival in September.

When Robbie Castell (his mother teaches in Cookham) and Tom Sadler met at university they found a common interest in singing with the campus barbers shop group. However, their respective imaginations and senses of humour led them to take the tradition in a different direction by adding dramatic and (as it happens) somewhat bizarre plots to the music.  Little did they know that their ingenuity and musical skills would take them to the West End within a couple of years.

So, last night in Pinder Hall we saw why they have had this success. For an exhibition of harmony, humour, timing, energy and sheer performance skills this delivered in sackfuls.

I was glued to the action the whole way through  -  you just don’t want to miss any of the gems of wit and humour that cascade from the stage.  And all in faultless dovetailed harmony. You do need to pay close attention during some of the songs as the words come out fast and furious  -  but it’s worth the concentration !

The plot? The need to suspend disbelief has never been greater.  Briefly, the four horsemen of the apocalypse have been commanded by God to annihilate humankind as they have made such a mess of the world, in particular by producing hand dryers of quite exceptional uselessness.  

The horsemen set off on their sturdy steeds only to find that one of their four is missing: Death fails to turn up at the appointed time.  Never daunted, they commandeer a handy primary school teacher who is preparing her children for the Christmas play. Unluckily for her, her name is Beth. Well, that’s close enough to Death so she joins them in their commission to destroy the world. Off they go in true Odyssean style overcoming one obstacle after another but all in perfect harmony.

Every performer has the gift of great timing  -  the script is delivered with a sharpness and panache that squeezes every ounce of humour out of it. And all on the right note.

Last night they certainly showed us what it is that won them all their top class awards.  

There were a few wry smiles after the show when a number of chaps found that the hand dryer in the men’s loo was not working and they were wandering around with dripping digits. You begin to sympathise !

Afterthought:

There is an opportunity to enjoy their brand of humour again: there is an evening of dinner, music, dancing at Maidenhead Golf Club on June 24^th where you will be entertained by the cast of Barbershopera and others to help raise money for their month in New York.  If you would like tickets or more information please contact barbershopera@gmail.com or ring 07723 354734