Thank Q for the Memories

Compered by stalwart Canberra–Queanbeyan singer–songwriting team John Shortis and Moya Simpson, Thank Q for the Memories celebrates the decennary of the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre (The Q) with highlights from memorable productions of the past ten years.

Elements of the show might strike strangers to The Q as indicating inordinately sentimental attachment to an institution that’s only just reached its tenth anniversary; but The Q has already generated many fond memories.  On the other hand, several of the songs and medleys led by Shortis & Simpson, and one by Peter J. Casey, were hilariously rude.

Thank Q was quite a production, with the casts or substantial choirs of several shows performing, at times simultaneously, excerpts or songs from the shows; a band of talented multi-instrumentalists comprising Peter J. Casey (piano), Ian Blake (saxes and bass), Jonathon Jones (drums and percussion), and Dave O’Neill (bass, lead guitar, violin, mandolin); and sometimes soloists too, taking the stage from Shortis & Simpson, who nicely kept everything moving along.

Some of Casey’s and of Shortis & Simpson’s singing faded behind the instrumental backing, but the audio quality otherwise supported everybody well; stage management of the many intricate manoeuvres of entrances and exits was admirable; and the lighting itself added personality to the evening.

Possibly not high culture, it was nonetheless a fun night out.

John P. Harvey

Image: Moya Simpson and John Shortis, who compered Thank Q for the Memories.