Canberra
Theatre
28th
October 2012
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
Elaine Paige
commenced her career in 1968 as a member of the tribe in the musical
“Hair”. After appearing in leading roles
in London productions of “Grease”, “Billy” and “The Boyfriend” she achieved
International recognition playing Eva Peron in the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice
musical “Evita”.
Her next musical was another Andrew Lloyd
Webber/Tim Rice vehicle “Cats” and her recording of the hit song from this show
“Memory” became the definitive version.
She has continued to star on stage ever since, appearing, and often
originating the starring role, in
productions of “Chess”, “Anything
Goes”,, “Piaf”, “Sunset Boulevard”, “The King and I”, “Sweeney Todd”, “The
Drowsy Chaperone” to name just a few. Her most recent appearance in a musical was
in the 2012 Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies”.
Elaine Paige
last performed in Canberra in 2009 in a concert at the Royal Theatre celebrating her 40 year showbiz career, in which she reprised some of her most famous roles. Following its Canberra performance this
concert was filmed in the State theatre in Sydney and released worldwide as a
DVD.
Her 2012 concert, this time in the slightly more intimate confines of the Canberra Theatre, was rather more forward looking , still retaining the same high production standards with excellent set and lighting, superb seven piece band and outstanding musical arrangements. She also added a fine male singer in the person of handsome young New Zealander, Nic Kyle, who already has his own impressive set of musical theatre credits, most recently as the star of a 2012 New Zealand production of “Jesus Christ Superstar”.
Her 2012 concert, this time in the slightly more intimate confines of the Canberra Theatre, was rather more forward looking , still retaining the same high production standards with excellent set and lighting, superb seven piece band and outstanding musical arrangements. She also added a fine male singer in the person of handsome young New Zealander, Nic Kyle, who already has his own impressive set of musical theatre credits, most recently as the star of a 2012 New Zealand production of “Jesus Christ Superstar”.
The addition
of NIc Kyle opened the way for a different selection
of songs from those shows with which Elaine Paige is most
associated, and which of course her audience have come along to hear. It also allowed some
selections from her latest CD album on which she sings duets with the likes of
Barry Manilow, Dione Warwick, Olivier Newton-John, Neil Sedaka and Paul Anka.
Onstage for the full show, only leaving the stage briefly for the four costume changes, including one in which she wore an oufit from
“Sunset Boulevarde” to present a richly dramatic version of “With One Look”. Among
other selections from her stage shows was a dramatic version of “Oh What a
Circus” from “Evita”, and a gorgeously sung solo version of “I Know Him So
Well” from “Chess”.
Sprinkled
between these were the duets with Nic Kyle, some superbly arranged jazz
standards and one or two beautiful ballads which had been specially written for
her. Nic Kyle contributed two excellent
solos , a superb account of the John Farham song “Burn For You” and an electrifying
performance of “Gethsemane” from “Jesus Christ Superstar”.
But mainly it was ELaine Paige centre stage, still looking as glamorous as her photos, singing her heart out, occasionaly chatting briefly and comfortably with her audience. Her voice still retains the distinctive silvery timbre so familiar from her
recordings. After over 40 years honing her craft on stage, Miss Paige knows how to give a star performance, and how to leave her audience with that unforgettable "Memory" that she sings about so powerfully and passionately in her finale.
