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A magical Christmas Proms

With the combined might of the Adelaide Art Orchestra, conductor Tim Sexton, and guest vocalists Debora Krizak and Bobby Fox, this year’s Christmas Proms was an instant seasonal classic.

Dec 21, 2015, updated Dec 21, 2015

Presented annually by the Adelaide Festival Centre, this event has emerged over the past decade as a joyful and triumphant bushel of fun in that new old-fashioned way – and this time there was even a magician.

With much affectionate humour, music and jolly Yuletide carols, the hugely enjoyable performance was riven with glorious sentimentality, evoking vivid memories of what it was like to be a kid at Christmas in a more innocent era. Yet, mercifully, there was also a lack of saccharin.

This season, Sexton concentrated on the magic of Christmas to produce a spirited, good-natured family show, which benefited greatly from superb performances from musical theatre stars Krizak (A Chorus Line, Sweet Charity) and Fox (Mamma Mia, The Jersey Boys), the Mellowtone Five Singers and the splendid orchestra.

The show had everything: drummers drumming, pipers piping, Rudolph, jingle bells, sleigh rides, five ladies dancing, three oriental kings, two clowns a-clowning and an illusionist with a Christmas tree. Then there were the super songs from Fox, including “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”, “That Old Black Magic” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, plus Krizak’s immaculate version of “All I Want for Christmas is You”.

Sexton’s eclectic song choice proved that you don’t need grand themes, superfluous tinsel and a huge budget to make magic.  You simply need vision, talent and good people.

The sold-out audience would surely all agree that all those involved in the Proms had these qualities in abundance. Many have fallen under Sexton’s spell and will be booking early for next year’s performance.

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Christmas Proms was presented by the Adelaide Festival Centre at the Festival Theatre on Friday and Saturday.

 

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