Perth Reviews

What a superb evening of cabaret!

Acclaimed artist Johanna Allen, resplendent in sequins, walked through the audience to the stage, singing as she strolled. Accompanied by the wonderful Mark Simeon Ferguson at the piano they gave the audience a show to remember.

The story of Harold Arlen is not widely known but as composer of such evergreens as Stormy Weather. Paper Moon, One For My Baby and Somewhere Over the Rainbow, he deserves recognition. This musical play encompassed fascinating detail about the life of American songwriter Arlen which held the audience spellbound.

Allen has a marvelous voice and she uses it cleverly, at times sweet, low and seductive,by contrast at other times full strength. She has a lovely tone and her range is phenomenal. She is perfectly matched by Ferguson. His arrangements were primed to underline Allen’s timing perfectly.

In the 1930s Arlen wrote songs for the famous Cotton Club; Any Place I Hang My Hat is Home, Blues in the Night, Stormy Weather. Ironically the artists who sang Arlen’s numbers are better known than the composer himself; Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Judy Garland to name but a few. By the mid 30’s Hollywood beckoned and Arlen’s songs featured in films such as The Wizard of Oz.

The evening was a seamless blend of nostalgic stories punctuated by heavenly songs. Because of the death of the Queen there was no show on the Thursday 22 September and one show on Friday 22 September.

It is to be hoped Allen and Ferguson will travel to Perth again in a new season of cabaret Downstairs at the Maj.