Audience blessing for priestly tale

EDITORIAL - herts.advertiser@archant.co.uk

26 May 2005

Jodi, Max and Beth

FROM the moment Kerpow! jumped on to the stage at the Abbey Theatre in St Albans in their funky fluorescent colours, the six band members performed with energy, verve and an impressive self-assurance - considering the youngest member is a mere 12-years-old.

Now on their fourth show, Kerpow! can boast a faithful fan base who know the words and the actions to several of their songs, not forgetting the all-important Kerpow! punch-in-the-air greeting.

Director Jill Priest has aimed this show at the primary school pupil and they certainly seem to love it. Parents, beware - some of the songs are dangerously catchy and you'll be humming them yourself before you know it. From the "It's make-believe" about night-time fears of witches and snakes, to "the Rainbow Rap" where each member has a colour to sing about, these songs seem to hit just the right spot with this audience.

For each new show, Jill Priest mixes in new songs and dance routines with the old favourites. This time we saw Jodi and Elroy strutting their stuff in a balletic routine that allowed Jodi to show just how high she can kick her long legs. Another new entry allowed each band member to sing about what they wanted to be when they grew up, with appropriate actions. The movements were carefully choreographed so that as one person swung their arm wide, the next person was ducking for the floor, and so on, all along the line-up. The older generation, particularly, appreciated the precision timing involved with this one.

There's plenty of audience participation, a chance to get up on stage and even, this time, a pantomime baddie. Pow, the band's cuddly rabbit, is now a fully-paid-up member replacing Rachel who left after two shows due to the pressure of other commitments. Despite the audience's loudest remonstrances, a sinister man in a flowing black coat succeeds in stealing Pow away. Even though this caused consternation among the younger members of the audience, Pow did reappear safely after the interval and stole the limelight with a heartfelt solo.

Jill Priest has devised a winning line-up. I'm sure there are plenty of local households eagerly awaiting Kerpow!'s next gig on June 19.

Maria Burke

© Herts Advertiser, May 2005. Reproduced by permission