Jess Robinson hosted the first in a season of Follow Spot cabarets at Proud Cabaret City, London
The first in a season of Follow Spot cabaret evenings took place at London’s Proud Cabaret City (featuring Jess Robinson, Tim Newman, Laurence Owen and Anna-Jane Casey). The season continues until 26 April.
Star rating: 4 stars ****
Have you ever wondered what it would sound like if Marilyn Monroe sang Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’? Or if Shirley Bassey sang ‘Rapper’s Delight’? The Follow Spot’s spring season is hosted by talented impressionist Jess Robinson and she proves to be one of the most entertaining comperes I’ve ever come across.
Her cocktail of impressions successfully mismatch celebrities with a variety of songs, and she has a fantastic insight when it comes to famous faces like Amanda Holden, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini (better known as Cheryl Cole) and Darcey Bussell – it is almost as if they are in the room.
The first performer of the night was Tim Newman who opened his set with Rent’s ‘One Song Glory’. Currently in the cast of Memphis, the actor brilliantly balanced his beautiful singing with an incredibly witty explanation of ‘how to do a showcase, for dummies’. The audience was more than happy to follow the guide’s rules as well.
Next to take the spotlight was award-winning film composer and finalist of the Musical Comedy Awards, Laurence Owen. The artist told us how he planned to write a film about a group of unlikely film characters who go on an adventure. In a fairly accurate representation, he demonstrated what a Disney princess really wanted in life and what Disney life expected from its female characters. His happy cowboy countered every Western stereotype and he took us into the heart and soul of Serge, the Bond movie henchman. If this film came out in the cinema, I would be the first to join the queue.
Anna-Jane Casey was the night’s headliner. Despite being known mostly for her roles in musical theatre, Casey insisted that musical theatre is her job, not her life, and kept that style of music at a distance. With that in mind, she may not be so impressed by my mentioning that she has the perfect voice for musical theatre – flawless and an amazing range. Casey is the ideal performer; she’s talented, charismatic and effortlessly builds a rapport with an audience. Her final song, ‘Young At Heart’, completely summed her up – so enjoyable to watch.
Simon Pickering and his band complemented the singers so well and the performers never had to battle to be heard over the music.
The Follow Spot’s spring season continues until 26 April. Expect many of your theatre favourites to be performing, such as Julie Atherton, Daniel Boys, Shona White and many more. If the launch night is anything to go by, you can look forward to a perfectly fun-filled night of comedy and fabulous music.
Tal Fox
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