Lorna Luft performs her show Accentuate the Positive at the Crazy Coqs, London
Accentuate the Positive – Lorna Luft continues at the Crazy Coqs, London until 13 December.
The festive season gets under way at this popular venue as Lorna Luft returns for a third visit with a brand new Christmas show.
A sweeping entrance is made through the audience as she sings ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’. Once on stage she launches into ‘Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive’ which leads into an extended tribute to songwriter Johnny Mercer. It includes ‘Any Place I Hang My Hat is Home’ and, with a passing nod to Luft’s mother, Judy Garland, ‘On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe’.
Luft also tells of Mercer’s life and is delightfully frank about Garland’s relationship with the songwriter. A bonus is the showing of a film clip of Luft being serenaded by Garland with the number specially written for her, ‘Lorna’. The tribute is rounded off with a medley of classic Mercer standards.
A section is devoted to a medley of great film songs that were not even nominated for an Oscar and which are delivered in a witty arrangement. Whilst mention of Panning For Gold – a show that includes hits from flop shows – leads to Luft singing from the score of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
Luft knows how to belt out a song, but there are times when her voice is a little strained. And while her adoring fans loved the power fest, I would have preferred that the softer ballads were kept quiet and not pumped up halfway through.
The finale has the audience up on their feet and joining in a selection of Christmas songs.
Musical accompaniment is provided on piano by musical director and Luft’s husband, Colin R Freeman, along with bassist Fraser Snell.
Barrie Jerram
www.brasseriezedel.com/crazy-coqs/lorna-luft-3
Readers may also be interested in:
Cheek to Cheek – Steve Ross and Karen Oberlin – Crazy Coqs – Review
Natalie Douglas – Hello Dolly: The Music of Dolly Parton – Crazy Coqs – Review
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