There is Nothin’ Like a Dame – Cadogan Hall

There is Nothin’ Like a Dame was performed at the Cadogan Hall, London.

Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩

There is no one that There’s Nothin’ Like a Dame wasn’t for. As the audience gathered in the auditorium in the grand Cadogan Hall, it was clear that, as always, music and musical theatre, in particular, had brought audiences of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate 100 years of women in musical theatre.

Louise Dearman, Ria Jones, Alexia Khadime and Rachel Tucker came together for one night only to perform some of the most iconic female roles from the past century. Taking us through from Rodgers and Hammerstein all the way to Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, there was certainly something in there for everyone and who would miss this one off opportunity to see these four sensational performers sing together.

The girl-power theme wasn’t just strong in the song choices, which included hits from Gypsy, Oliver!, Sweet Charity, Chicago, Rent and Chess, to name a few, but also in watching the way the performers worked together or how they responded when one of the others was singing. It really demonstrated a camaraderie and mutual support.

While there was no doubt that each leading lady could hold her own, it would have also been nice for more duets or group pieces. After all, when next will there be an opportunity to see four such incredible women share the stage like this?

When they did come together to sing songs such as ‘Big Spender’ and ‘Let It Go’, they blew the whole audience away.

Likewise, it was impossible not to be completely in awe of Jones and Tucker’s duet to ‘I Know Him So Well’ or Khadime and Dearman singing ‘Take Me or Leave Me’. Of course, watching the three former Elphabas sing ‘The Wizard and I’ together was just something out of every musical lover’s dreams. It came as no surprise that the women were met with multiple standing ovations throughout the night too.

The lucky winner of production company Lambert Jackson’s competition, Daisy Greenwood, held her own among all these other leading ladies despite only being 17 years old. Greenwood completely nailed her rendition of ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’ from Funny Girl and there is no doubt that this won’t be the last we see of this future leading lady.

During the first half which focused on the first half of the century, Jones’ take on ‘Rose’s Turn’ from Gypsy was a particular highlight.

During the second half, it was clear where all the younger audience members were sat as the energy levels in the room skyrocketed with shows like Les Mis, Wicked and Rent being clear fan favourites.

It’s also interesting to notice how the earlier songs such as ‘Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man’ and ‘As Long As He Needs Me’ still focused on men, yet by the show’s grand finale – ‘Let It Go’ – the women had broken free of their roles as secondary characters to the leading man.

While this show was a wonderful celebration of women, it was quite notable that almost none of the songs were written or composed by women. Therefore, it was a welcome relief to hear Dearman’s beautiful rendition of Sara Bareilles’ ‘She Used to Be Mine’, for while all the previous songs celebrated the past, this one celebrated the future of women in the industry both on and off stage.

Who knows, perhaps in 100 years audiences will gather to celebrate 100 years of musical theatre written by women too.

Tal Fox