I tend to agree with you. It is an odd angle to be taking a photo from - the backs of the performers on the stage a couple of Thursday evenings before Christmas. But it's in there for a reason (apart from the fact that it's dead artistic)...
...it's there to underline the point that if there is a story to be told and Mr Duke is involved it's going to have words and music and MOVEMENT!
Here's the opening number of "Hosanna Rock" taken from a more orthodox angle and I think you can see what I mean. It was billed as: a lively re-telling of the Nativity story and it was certainly that.
The big musical numbers were interspersed with songs for smaller groups and a certain amount of dramatic action to keep the story moving along. The photo above shows Ali Kanani and Matthew Burman as angels disguised as tax-collectors cum management consultants sent by the Archangel Gabriel to have a word with Caesar Augustus to make sure that a census that would require a certain family to make a trip to Bethlehem at a most inconvenient moment was actually arranged.
After "Hosanna Rock" there was a twenty minute interval before the second part of the concert involving vocal and instrumental performances by both soloists and groups. Here Mr Duke can be seen during the interval sorting out a few last minute problems.
This too went with a swing and ended up with a sing along session for the packed hall of parents and families. Well done and thanks very much Mr Duke and all his performers and helpers.
© St. John's - DTP, 1997 & 2005 - N. Pauli