Apparently back by popular demand this afternoon the Albert Hall played host to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s Best of Broadway programme for just one day. We should have known just how the afternoon was going to play out when we saw the type of audience today’s Best of Broadway attracted. Its fair to say that the average age of the audience was UNLIKELY to be below, say, 50 years old?! Not that there is anything wrong with that. The funniest thing I saw was someone knitting whilst waiting for the Orchestra to start!

So the actual programme was good if a little unexciting. Also, considering the number of Broadway productions I’ve seen, at least half of the songs seemed strangely unfamiliar though I’m pleased that the ensemble included songs from such shows as The Lion King, Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia, Cats, Evita, Guys and Dolls, and Les Misérables. There were also a few songs from some shows new to the West End: Spamalot and Wicked.

The Orchestra were superb but were let down somewhat by the four West End singing “stars” – two women and two men whom I can’t even remember their names. The two women were alright but the two men weren’t the best singers and at times the singers actually almost overwhelmed the Orchestra! However I was well impressed with how they smoothly introduced each song despite no real conneciton between each. Oh and the conductor was quite the funny guy too.

An okay way to spend a Sunday afternoon though I do admit to catching myself yawning a few times!