Peter Straker performs in cabaret at the Crazy Coqs, London
Peter Straker’s cabaret Peter Straker Sings continues at the Crazy Coqs, London until 15 January.
Making his debut at this exciting cabaret venue, Peter Straker takes his audience on a rollercoaster ride with a well chosen programme that reflects his career, his favourite songs and above all his love of Jacques Brel.
Making his entrance through the audience, he assures them – ‘I’m Still Here’ – Sondheim’s great anthem of survival which has been cleverly tweeked to reflect what he has been through in his 50-year career.
Straker talks of his leaving Jamaica as a child, coming to England and later auditioning for Hair. During the run of that show he had to put on a dress and stand in for the un-well Marsha Hunt for the number ‘White Boys’ – which he then performs.
His talent as an actor punctuates his performance – the delivery is twofold. He acts the song rather than just sings it. This is best demonstrated in ’I Put a Spell On You’, where he puts on a bowler hat, adopts the persona of a Voodoo exponent and lets rip with tremendous ferocity. From this he glides in to a very gentle ‘Alfie’ which is put across in a charming storytelling way.
Reverting to his Jamaican heritage, Straker uses patois for a couple of folk songs. He even whips the audience into a choir that Gareth Malone would be proud of in a rousing version of ‘Banana Boat Song’.
Kicking of the second half with a selection of Brel songs allows Straker to ratchet up his performance even higher. The hymn-like ‘Flatlands’ – homage to Brel’s homeland – give ways to ‘Amsterdam’ and ‘Funeral Tango’ where the lyrics are roared, spat out as he acts them. These prove that he is the finest interpreter and performer of Brel’s work around.
From one of Straker’s albums, recorded and produced by close friend Freddie Mercury, the song ‘Ragtime Piano Joe’ provides musical director Gulliver Ralston with a great piano solo.
If there is any quibble with this marvellous evening of entertainment, it is a greedy and personal one – I would have loved some more Brel.
Barrie Jerram
www.brasseriezedel.com/crazy-coqs
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