The Divine Miss Bette Christmas Special.
Concept by Catherine Alcorn. Originally created by Peter Cox. Produced by Neil Gooding Productions and Catherine Alcorn, The Q Theatre. December 18 -21 2019. Bookings 62856290
Reviewed by Peter Wilkins
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| Catherine Alcorn as The Divine Miss Bette. Photo by Michael Moore |
The Divine Miss Bette is back in the person of the divine
Catherine Alcorn – all glitter, all tinsel and sparkling with talent. Over two
hours, Alcorn minces and mocks and belts out her big voiced tribute songs, backed
by her backing singers and band under the musical direction of pianist Michael Tyack. It’s Christmas and
Alcorn is on fire to set your spirits jingling with Bette Midler favourites
such as Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy From
Company B, In The Mood and the Jingle Bell Rock. Before you know it the
arms are swaying the voices singing on
cue and the hands clapping in rapturous applause. Alcorn’s mimicry is magical.
She doesn’t channel the brash and bountifully boisterous Bette, She inhabits
her from the rousing rendition of Helen Reddy ‘s Delta Dawn to the contagiously swinging melody of Bobby Freeman’s Do You Want To Dance to the
enticing From A Distance.
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| Clare Ellen O'Connor, Geuff Greeen, Catherine Alcorn Kirby Burgess, Crick Boue, Tony Novak in The Divine Miss Bette Christmas Special. Photo: Michael Moore |
Bewitching as ever, Alcorn with the bubbly, bouncing
effervescent and highly talented Harlettes Clare Ellen O'Connor and Kirby Burgess as her hilariously playful
backing singers puts on a Christmas special of Yuletide proportion, making
spirits bright. Nothing can faze her backing band of Musical Director on piano Michael Tyack, drummer,
Geoff Green, bass Crick Boue and guitarist Tommy Novak. Whatever
request the excited audience can throw at them, they pick it up with ease and
confidence. The Divine Miss Bette Christmas
Special is a gift-wrapped evening of
sheer revelry in which the audience are as much a part of the party as the
performers on the festooned stage of Christmas decorations. lights and trees, supplied by Hang Ups of Fyshwick all topped off
by Eclipse's festive lighting effects .
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| Photo by Michael Moore |
A heckler hurls a jocund heckle, instantly countered with a quick quip from the lip.
Alcorn bats it back as good as she gets . She’s the sexy sasy siren with the
chauntese chutzpah. I could have done
with a little less of the audience participation and more of the music from
this bnrilliant company of artists. The
hilarity hits the spot though when Burgess and O’Connor dressed as larger
than life Christmas crackers flounce through the audience hurling crackers while
Alcorn, dressed as a Christmas present over a Santa outfit a la White Christmas
mode sidles up for a bit of a chat. The front row banter, the borderline tease
and the FU throwaways are all good-hearted fun and the opening night audience
were fully in the mood.
So much so that they didn’t want to let their diva go and
Alcorn proves herself a generous dispenser of endless encores. Of course,
there’s only one that the eager aficionados want to hear after all the covers,
all the vulgar Sophie Tucker blue jokes to make the Ladies and Germs blush and
squirm, all the banter and fast track
costume changes until she stands resplendent in a full length silver dress, a shining
icon of fashion and style. We know it’s coming, that unmistakable signature
song that marks Alcorn as a shining star with the audience wrapt in her thrall.
Lovers of Bette Midler, Festive Season revellers and Christmas carol choristers
and tongue in cheek tricksters with a penchant for the double entendre will
have a ball at The Divine Miss Bette’s Christmas Special. If you’re in for a
riotous romp and a dynamo dose of Christmas cheer, then don’t miss the dinner and show package or just the show at The Q’s end of year offering .