Written by Queenie
van de Zandt and Max Lambert
Musical Director: Max
Lambert
Produced by Neil
Gooding and Queenie van de Zandt
Q Theatre, Queanbeyan
to 3 March
Reviewed by Len Power
2 March
‘BLUE: The Songs Of Joni Mitchell’, written and performed by
Queenie van de Zandt and Max Lambert, gives an absorbing insight into the
singer/songwriter’s life as well as her music.
Joni Mitchell has had a long career but her most-remembered
songs are from the 60s and 70s. With
influences from various types of music, Mitchell's songs are deeply personal and
cover all aspects of the human condition, making them easy for us to relate to.
A Canadian by birth, she suffered from
polio as a child and struggled with formal learning at school. She gradually became a singer and gave up a
child for adoption, a situation that haunted her song writing for many years. Over a long career she released many albums. Her 1971 album ‘Blue’ is often cited as one
of the best albums of all time. She has
won numerous Grammy awards for her work.
Queenie van de Zandt sings the songs with great depth of
feeling. She puts her own stamp on these
much-loved songs but the spirit of Joni Mitchell’s originals is still there. It’s sometimes hard to accept a new
interpretation of a song deeply etched into your mind over the years by a
particular singer but Queenie van de Zandt is a good singer and her delivery is
emotionally truthful and very appealing.
The recorded narration of Joni Mitchell’s history is interspersed
with reminiscences by Queenie van de Zandt as Joni herself. Surprisingly, she performs the character with
an Australian accent but there is a point to this, as you will find out at the
end of the show. It’s a good script with
just enough information to complement the chosen songs and draw you deeper into
the world of Joni Mitchell.
Max Lambert on piano is the lead instrumentalist on the
show. Hugh Fraser on double bass and
Roger Locke on guitars provide a fine accompaniment, too.
This was a pleasant and memorable evening filled with fine
singing by Queenie van de Zandt in this tribute to one of the great
singer/songwriters of our time.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7’s ‘On Stage’ program on Mondays from
3.30pm and on ‘Artcetera’ from 9.00am on Saturdays.
