The Lyric Theatre Singers’ latest show featured the music of the legendary Jule Styne
By Byron Toben
June 21, 2017
Montréal’s Lyric Theatre Singers, now in their 27th year, recently presented another of their annual Spring delights, this one called Hello Broadway. Thirty-eight singers, each paying to be in the year-round chorus, blended seamlessly. Women, as usual, predominated with thirteen sopranos and six altos. They were joined by six tenors, four baritones and three basses. The whole featured twelve new members, most of whom were younger.
Long-time Musical Director Bob Bachelor co-directed with veteran Cathy Burns, who also helped choreograph two larger pieces. Jonathan Patterson was a featured guest choreographer. Mr. Bachelor also contributed fresh arrangements of many of the tunes, often in collaboration with Chris Barillaro.
All in all, there were twenty pieces, involving 39 songs. The earliest was the Gershwins’ 1938 Love is Here To Stay, and the most recent was The Schuyler Sisters from Hamilton (2015). The music of the legendary Jule Styne was highly featured, often in collaboration with Adolph Green and Betty Comden. These four pieces were entitled Let Me Entertain You from the 1959 Gypsy. Another piece getting a lot of stage time was a Once Upon a Mattress medley, with six songs and ten characters.
Among the recent newcomers to the group, I was impressed by Susan Lamontagne, who was featured in the Circle of Life from the 1994 film The Lion King.
As a Jacques Brel addict, I was pleased to see his translation of The Quest from Man of La Mancha (1965) into French for his version… reputedly the only time he sang songs other than his own… included in the program.
One half of the show was costumed in elegant black and white suits and gowns, while the other half was in a splash of colour, mostly red, pink, and purple.
Behind every successful man, the joke goes, stands an amazed mother-in-law. Behind every wonderful chorus, no joke, stands a solid orchestra (well, except for a cappella numbers). In-demand pianist Benjamin Kwong was joined by bassist Caleb Smith, percussionist Guillaume Pilote, keyboardist Robin Chemtov and busy Jennifer Bell (sax, flute and clarinet).
Speaking of busy, Lyric Theatre Prez Louise Dorais is already laying the groundwork for their fabulous annual Candlelight Christmas, which will be presented from December 7 to 10, 2017.
Hello Broadway closed on June 17. For info on past shows and future or to join the group, contact lyrictheatrecompany.com
Images: Tam Lan Truong
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Byron Toben, former president of the Montreal Press Club, was a prolific writer, esteemed critic, and beloved figure within Montreal’s cultural community. As WestmountMag.ca’s theatre reviewer for the past decade, his thoughtful critiques became a defining feature of the publication. Earlier in his career, he contributed to Rover Arts, Charlebois Post, The Downtowner, and The Senior Times. Byron passed away on October 11, 2025, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the city’s arts scene.
