THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA
Presented by ATAAllstar Artists Pty Ltd. And the Adelaide Festival Centre. Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Festival Theatre. Adelaide Festival Centre. June 19 2015
Reviewed by Peter Wilkins
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| The Glenn Miller Orchestra |
I’ve just had a swinging great
time and judging by the oohs and aahs from the sea of Seniors around me, the
audience was swept along on the same wave of nostalgia. On the Festival Theatre
stage, the Glenn Miller Orchestra from
Los Angeles magnificently revived the old familiar melodies of a bygone era
from Miller’s signature tune, Moonlight
Serenade to popular favourites such as George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Chattanooga Choo Choo. Seventy five
years after Miller formed his wartime orchestra, the melodies still evoke the
heart and soul of a world at war with the soaring sounds of optimism, love and
hope. Under the leadership of band leader the outstanding orchestra of
trumpeters, trombonists, saxophonist, percussionist, Bass player and pianist, The Glenn Miller Orchestra treated the
capacity audience to a bevy of familiar, hummable, foot tapping tunes that kept
the audience entranced from start to finish. The bold blast of the brass, the
rhythmic beat of the drums, the subtle accompaniment of the Bass and the
melodic tunes from the piano conjured once more the fun and laughter of the
1940s dance floors.
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| The Glenn Miller Orcheastra and the Broadway Swing Dancers |
The orchestra is also accompanied
by the stylish and energetic Sydney based Broadway swing dancers, who recalled
the elegance and sophistication of such stars of the silver screen, Gene Kelly,
Fred and Adele Astaire and Cyd Charisse to such numbers as Tuxedo Junction, Hootenanny Hoot Hoot or Little Brown Jug to name
but a few. No band would be complete without the vocalist and the orchestra is
fortunate to include the wonderful voices of Wendy Smith and a contemporary Frank
Sinatra, the likeable Mark Kopitske. With a long brown gown to match the pink
camellia in her hair, Smith captivates her audience with her rendition of Cole
Porter’s I Get A Kick Out Of You and
‘Swonderful, made famous by Fred
Astaire in the film Funny Face. With
that likeable grin, Kopitske entrances with his rendition of the Frank Sinatra
hit, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley
Square and soulfully captures the mood of World War 2 with Roses of Picardy. Far too many to
mention here, hit follows hit with outstanding musicianship from a touring
orchestra that reverently captures the arrangements of Miller, Bill Finnegan
and members of the modern Glenn Miller Orchestra.
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| Glenn Miller with trombone |
In tribute to the Anzac
tradition, the programme draws to a close with tunes from World War One, such
as Bill Finnegan’s arrangement of the 1917 composition, The Johnson Rag and the earlier Line
Buddy. Wendy Smith and Mark Kopetsky join the orchestra to sing medley of Roses
of Picardy, It’s A Long Way To Tiperary, Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit
Bag and Vera Lynn’s mournful song of irony, The White Cliffs of Dover.
To close Rick Gerber introduces
all the members of the touring performance before bringing the show to an
inevitable, regrettable close with the full version of Moonlight Serenade. To the
rousing applause of a enthusiastically appreciative audience, Gerber announces
an encore number and launches into the St.
Louis Blues March before changing tack to an original arrangement of
Australia’s unofficial National Anthem. All over the world they recognize the
song of a swaggie who steals a jumbuck and leaps into a billabong to escape the
squatter and the law. It’s a rebel close to a remarkable trip down memory lane
and a tribute to the men and women of the wartime era and the great bands of a
glorious era. Humming or remembering, the audience left the theatre after an
afternoon of unforgettable melodies, wonderful song and slick, stylish dance.
Everyone had a fantastic, swinging good time.
The Glnn Miller Orchestra will be playing in the Canberra Theatre
on June 27th. For all those who can remember and all those who love
the sound and songs of the Big Band era, this is a performance not to be
missed.