Following their sold-out Christmas Cabarets at Crazy Coqs, West End favourites LIZ ROBERTSON and ROBERT MEADMORE now bring an evening of springtime joy in “A TOUCH OF SPRING.”
These much-loved stars of stage and song bring their signature charm, wit, and warmth to a cabaret bursting with colour, harmony, and feel-good delight. Two spectacular voices combining bright melodies and songs in a bouquet of classic and contemporary favourites. Joined by the brilliant SIMON BECK at the piano, they create an evening of music and merriment filled with heart and sunshine in full bloom!
From Sondheim sparkle and golden-age glamour to soaring duets and joyful sing-along moments, “A TOUCH OF SPRING” is fresh, uplifting, and bursting with heart, a glorious celebration of song to lift spirits. What better way to welcome the ‘Season of Spring’!
An evening of pure joy that will leave you smiling long after the final note!
Review by Stephen Gilchrst
Unbelievably, both Liz Robertson and Robert Meadmore are in their early seventies and still remain a touch younger than me. I still don’t understand how that happened! I have followed Ms Robertson’s career with interest since I first saw her in the original London company of Sondheim’s ‘A Little Night Music,’ headed by Jean Simmons, when she was ‘Mrs. Anderssen’ and part of the Quintet who sing the overture. She rose quickly, starring in ‘My Fair Lady’ where she met and married Alan J Lerner, one of the great musical wordsmiths. I remember Robert Meadmore with much affection for his performance in the 1988 production of ‘Brigadoon’ at the Victoria Palace.
Anyway, I will not patronise these precious performers by referring to them as ‘Old Stagers,’ rather I regard them as legends in musical theatre, who have perfected their style, their presentation and their skills and who bring a lifetime of outstanding work to their current presentation.
I cannot believe I am saying this, but years on I believe their voices have actually got better over time. This collection of Spring themed numbers was blissful and deliciously performed with style, elegance (Ms Robertson looks stunning in a cream trouser suit) and, as importantly, acted – as only they could be by peerless performers.
The aet opened with a bouncy Cy Coleman / Carolyn Leigh ‘Hey, Look Me Over.’ They duetted and sang solos. The set list included musical theatre songs and some contemporary numbers. Their celebration of Sondheim in ‘A Little Priest’ from Sweeney Todd was outstanding, musically and dramatically.
Meadmore presented a superb ‘Younger Than Springtime’ and the Harnick/Bock ‘She Loves Me,’ probably the best I have heard in any production of the show of the same name. Robertson gave us a terrific version of a little-known revue song form 1956, “April in Fairbanks” a satirical cabaret song written by Murray Grand for the musical revue ‘New Faces of 1956’. It humorously contrasts the romantic allure of spring in cities like Paris and New York with the freezing reality of Fairbanks, Alaska.
The two delivered some My Fair Lady (lyrics A J Lerner) with ‘On the Street Where You Live’ from Meadmore and a powerful ‘Show Me’ from Robertson. She also gave us a number from the movie version of ‘On a Clear Day You Can See Forever’ (‘Love with All the Trimmings’) in a medley with a little-known song from ‘Carmelina,’ ‘”Love Before Breakfast”, both with lyrics by Ms Robertson’s husband.
Musical Direction was provided by Simon Beck who is fast becoming (or perhaps has become) an accompanist of choice for the classiest cabarets His original arrangements for the new material were terrific as was his piano playing for the musical bridges.
This was an afternoon of pure joy. If you consider me prejudiced because I am pals with Robertson and Meadmore, let me assure you I had never met either of them before, though I was delighted to be introduced to them after the show.
All I can say is this, I’ll bet you a dime to a dollar you will not see a cabaret based in musical theatre work, better, curated, performed, or more elegantly presented. Simply exquisite.
Liz Robertson & Robert Meadmore
with Simon Beck at the piano
in
A Touch of Spring
The Crazy Coqs
Sunday 19th April, 5pm
Monday 20th April, 6:30pm
Hey Look Me Over – Both
Spring Medley (Little April Showers/Spring, Spring, Spring/Spring Is Here/It
Might As Well be Spring) – Both
Surrey With The Fringe On Top – Liz
She Loves Me – Robert
You Make Me Feel So Young – Both
Grow As We Go – Robert
Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most – Liz
My Fair Lady Meets Sweeney Todd (On The Street Where You Live/Show
Me/A Little Priest) – Both
Going Nowhere – Robert
April In Fairbanks – Liz
Imagine/What A Wonderful World – Both
Love With All The Trimmings/Love Before Breakfast – Liz
Younger Than Springtime – Robert
You’re Timeless To Me – Both
Sing-a-longs (Do-Re-Mi/Edelweiss) – Both +Audience