Party in the park for Lloyd Webber
Better late than never, I suppose. Andrew Lloyd Webber collected his bus pass last March, and the BBC marked the occasion last night with a concert in Hyde Park which goes out on Radio 2 on Friday 10 October.
Hosted ebulliently by John Barrowman — with quite a lot of “nancying about” as one ALW associate ruefully remarked in the VIP area to the left of the stage — the three hour show was a wonderfully representative catalogue of the composer’s best stuff, with knockout contributions from Idina Menzel singing “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina,” Denise Van Outen laying down the law with “Take That Look Off Your Face” and Elaine Paige reprising “Memory” from Cats.
But was I alone in liking the opening set from Jesus Christ Superstar best of all? Sarah One, ALW’s first wife, nodded quietly when I suggested this. The BBC Concert Orchestra gave an electrifying account of the overture, Joss Stone pitched in vividly with the title song and Steve Balsamo, perhaps the best Jesus ever, gave a truly harrowing and beautiful version of “Gethsemane.”
ALW himself appeared at the end in a pink shirt and revealed that the title of the new Phantom show is Let Love Live, or Love Lies Down, or Let’s Love Life, or something equally unmemorable. I think it’s back to the drawing board with that one.
Anyway, there were far worse ways of spending what was probably the last decent late summer evening of the year than standing around sipping champagne with Graham Norton, Anthony van Laast, Bonnie Langford and Mark Steyn listening to this lot.
I thought Maria Friedman might have made a bad choice with “As If We Never Said Goodbye” from Sunset Boulevard — too muted and too late in the concert — but she rallied magnificently and pulled the whole audience into the slow-building climax.
Less successful, I’m afraid, was the new Nancy, Jodie Prenger, with the extra film song from Evita, “You Must Love Me.” Not much colouring or character, and I fear the worst already for her performance in Oliver!
The highlight contributions for ALW’s 50th birthday concert in the Albert Hall were provided by Glenn Close and Antonio Banderas. The honours were more evenly shared this time. Julian Lloyd Webber in an outsize Leyton Orient shirt led a dashing jazz forward line in the Variations his brother wrote for him as a bet over the O’s’ relegation fight one year.
Duncan James and Hayley Westenra gave real yearning to “I Believe My Heart” from The Woman in White. Ruthie Henshall was plangently pretty in “Another Suitcase” from Evita, while Shonagh Daly in a stunning red dress let rip with “Buenos Aires” from the same show.
And we all sang the descant to “Any Dream Will Do,” Lee Mead captivating everyone’s hearts, especially that of Denise, gorgeous and giggly, who by now had joined us on the champagne trail.
Craig Revel Horwood was attracting quite a good crowd, too, and Graham felt he had to turn a bit nasty with an over zealous colleague from the BBC. I asked him why he wasn’t on the stage himself. “It’s only radio, darling” he snapped, not all that good-naturedly, happy to leave the donkey work to John Barrowman without suggesting that he looked like a bit of an ass, I’m sure.
The crowd seeemed to be mightily entertained,and there was a spectacular fireworks display to round things off. We drove home happily with our friends and neighbours Howard and June Jones — Howard’s a top lawyer for ALW — checking our celebrity lists.
No sign of Tim Rice, alas, but plenty of back-up from Don Black, Bill Kenwright (happy with an Everton victory that same afternoon), Summer Strallen, Alex Armitage, Anthony Pye-Jeary in an unnecessarily florid shirt, musical supremo Nigel Wright and our own editor, of course, Terri Paddock.
September 15th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Should a critic really be making comments akin to the above snide remark about Jodie Prenger? I hope he won’t be reviewing her performance come the new year as we already know what his thoughts will be.
In cat should a reviewer not have the dignity to stick to reviewing and refrain from these boorish blogs where he alway sends up quaffing something in a VIP area somewhere with some B lister. Really dull and self indulgent clap trap
September 15th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Ok, it’s clear the reviewer doesn’t like John Barrowman or Graham Norton, and felt the need to comment on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s pink shirt. Hmmm… Obviously the author had better things to do than go to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s birthday (”there were far worse ways of spending what was probably the last decent late summer evening of the year”) and his “review” seems as much a fashion review as a music review (at least six comments regarding clothing or appearance). Clearly it would have been too much to ask what John Barrowman - a veteran leading man with sixteen years of musical theatre experience - actually SANG, instead of hiding behind someone else’s supposed comment to bash his performance as a presenter.
September 15th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
The reviewer must have been watching a different show to the rest of us.
I agree that Steve Balsamo was outstanding.
I also loved Jodie Prenger singing “you must love me” very moving.
Of course the hightlight of the show was the amazing Lee Mead who sang Love changes everything & did a duet with Hayley Westina, then near the end of the show sang Close Every Door & Any dream will do. He had the audience with him all the way.
Ruthie Henshall was perfection.
My only dissappointment was Joss Stone
September 15th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Pleased other people have responded……should a so called reviewer be in the VIP wing anyway……should he be allowed his sindey bitchy comments when he’s supposedly the ‘chief critic’…..he has conflicting interests…..but maybe his frequent crawly references to his editor in his unxious blogs let him off the hook
September 15th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
I’d just like to point out that Michael Coveney’s posting here is NOT a review, and is not published as such. His blog is just that, a blog, which runs on here in addition but quite separate to his insightful reviews of productions - rather than one-off concerts - for the main site. He did not attend The Birthday in the Park in any official capacity for Whatsonstage.com - though it was indeed nice for me personally to bump into him there - but as an invited guest of Really Useful and the Lloyd Webbers.
September 15th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I agree with Joan Lankford,- the blogger obviously saw a different show than the rest of the audience. I’m sure that if he’d paid more attention to the performances on stage, and less to the “celebs” and the champagne, he would have noticed star performances from Andrew Johnston, Dean Collinson and the wonderful Lee Mead. Lee stole the show with his powerful performances of not only Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do, but also with Love Changes Everything and All I ask Of You in duet with Hayley Westenra.
Idina menzel was good in Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, but her Unexpected Song was awful!
John Barrowman kept the show running effortlessly, occasionally sending himself up when the techie devils struck! He did what he does best, being an ENTERTAINER!
Jodie Prenger did a very powerful performance of You Must Love Me from Evita. She was relaxed and totally professional, and didn’t let a techie hic-up throw her at all!
As the Editorial Director point out, this is a blog. I just hope that when the critic does a proper review, he gives the performers more attention than he gives to the VIPs!
September 15th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Was this blog meant to be entertaining, or in its name-dropping self importance, simply some sort of public masturbation?
September 16th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I’d say the latter Gillian….so many of Mr Coveney’s scrawlings will back your theory up.
September 16th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Do I have a feeling attending a totally different concert that night?
Not even one has mentioned the performance of the night, at least for me and for everyone around me listening to all the performers, it was the most surprising highlight of the evening. I didn’t even know the name of that young man who has come from nowhere and stole the Show from all the others.
Rhydian is his name, I’ve learned that night and will never forget it that’s for sure…
His performance of TMOTN was breathtaking, brilliant and the first time performed, at least for me, with the velvety baritone vocals. What a change, suddenly The Phantome has got the layers of different sensual existence through the rich, powerful and emotional voice of Rhydian. And what a performance it was!
September 16th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Now now guys ‘n dolls, give it a rest. It’s a PERSONAL blog - you don’t have to agree with it but bitchiness does make for a good read! And please do try and spell properly and use decent syntax when replying! Personally, whoops there I go again, I was at the Thames Festival watching the spectacular procession and the amazing fireworks - definitely the best freebie London has to offer. Who needs pink shirts and pinker presenters and the same old warblers (mostly) that we’ve heard time and again singing their party pieces? And then to argue about it the next day? Get a life….
September 16th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
This was a wonderful event and enjoyed by the many who went.The performers were great and their songs were a reminder of L.L.W’s genius.I must agree with the reviewer about Steve Balsamo’s performance it was wonderful.He is the best Jesus EVER imho and his rendition of Gethsame never ceases to grasp the heart-strings and take the breath away. Also,Rhydian’s performance of M.O.T.N. from Phantom was sheer genius.He mesmerised and captivated the audience. This young man is amazing. Ruthie Henshall and Elaine Paige are wonderful and were not a disappointment on the night.John Barrowman was a host of friendly geniality and kept the whole thing running with his usual entertaining style.This event was what it should have been - a great evening’s entertainment for all.
September 17th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Good god. Has the world gone completely insane? Michael: thank you so much for your frequently gossipy, sometimes informative and always entertaining blog. It sounds like your evening was great fun. Please continue reporting and commenting in this vein. Anyone who doesn’t enjoy reading it or entirely misunderstands its purpose: bog off to some other forum where your nonsensical and insulting non sequiturs might be more welcome.