ACT
ONE |
|
MARATHON | Company |
ALONE | Michael |
MADELEINE | Company |
I LOVED |
Liz |
MATHILDE | Stuart |
BACHELOR'S DANCE |
Michael |
TIMID FRIEDA |
Alison & Men |
MY DEATH |
Liz & Stuart |
GIRLS AND DOGS |
Stuart & Michael |
JACKIE | Stuart |
STATUE | Michael |
THE DESPERATE ONES |
Company |
SONS OF... |
Liz |
AMSTERDAM |
Stuart &
Company |
ACT TWO |
|
THE BULLS |
Michael &
Company |
OLD FOLKS |
Alison &
Company |
MARIEKE |
Liz &
Company |
BRUSSELS |
Alison & Company |
FANETTE |
Michael |
FUNERAL TANGO |
Stuart |
MIDDLE CLASS |
Michael &
Stuart |
NO LOVE YOU'RE NOT
ALONE |
Liz |
NEXT |
Stuart &
Company |
CAROUSEL |
Company |
IF WE ONLY HAVE
LOVE |
Company |
'This is an impressive show that has both intellectual and emotional appeal. May it run forever.' What's On In London
* * * * * * * *
While I was aware of the cult status this musical celebrating the life and work of the Belgian song-writer Jacques Brel had attained, the first opportunity I had to see it was in September last year at the Canal Cafe. Having enjoyed the cabaret style revue first time round, it was interesting to see how the same production would fare in the slightly roomier surroundings of the Kings Head. I was not disappointed. Brel's material has been criticised for being melodramatic, sentimental and even dull, but Eric Blau and Mort Schuman's concept for the show, together with their English translations of his lyrics, rarely fail on any of the above counts. True Brel was ambitious in his themes, tackling the highs and lows of the human condition with songs about everything from war to love and old age, but there was an inherent sincerity in his material that cannot be denied.
The cast was in good form. Liz Greenaway's passionate renditions of No Love You're Not Alone and Sons Of were full of intensity and emotion. Michael Cahill demonstrated his versatility by teasing the audience in The Bulls and then switching to feelings of deep loss during Fanette. Alison Egan came up with a beautiful interpretation of Old Folks, while she raised our spirits with the wonderful Brussels. And Stuart Pendred, more than anyone, took advantage of the extra space of the King's Head stage with performances of Jackie and Funeral Tango that were quite capable of stopping the show. Congratulations also go to musical director and pianist Ruth Alexander and keyboard player Chris Brooker.
It would have been nice to know more about Brel the man.
A web correspondent writes: It's not strictly correct to refer to the Blau/Shuman lyrics across the board as translations. In most cases, they are, if sometimes quite loosely. But a few (e.g. Marathon) bear no resemblance to the original French words, so English "version", "rendition" or some such might be a better term.