MARIA FRIEDMAN RE-ARRANGED. To 4 January 2009.
London.
MARIA FRIEDMAN RE-ARRANGED
music by Various.
Trafalgar Studios, Whitehall, London, SW1 to 4 January 2009.
Wed–Fri 8:30pm, Sat 9pm Sun 6pm also 16, 30 Dec 8.30pm.
o performance 7, 22-26, 31 Dec, 1 Jan.
Runs 1hr 50min. No interval.
TICKETS: 0870 060 6632 (transaction fee).
www.theambassadors.com/trafalgarstudios or www.mariafriedmanlive.com
Review: Geoff Ambler 4 December 2008.
The Chocolate Factory shares an un-paralleled joy with the West End.
Maria Friedman has brought her evening of re-arranged cabaret, which graced the Menier earlier in the year, across the river to the Trafalgar’s number 1 Studio. Now a little shorter and lacking an interval Friedman Re-Arranged is still quite simply, one of the finest shows in town. Maria Friedman is, as ever, an endless delight, whether singing, story telling or dancing with the men in row A, she sparkles in the darkness, her voice stirring the audience with every number and filling the gaps with her infectious humour and musical passion. Supported by a magnificently mellifluous eleven piece band, sporting forty instruments and many recorders, they imbue Friedman with a sound I could listen to every night.
A song list heavy in Sondheim is never a problem and she draws on her friendship with him and experiences with the parts to add colour to each number. As before, The Worst Pies in London involves one of the aforesaid Row A men, pies, a rolling pin and some real floury fun. Through In Buddy’s EyesFriedman condenses all of Sally’s emotional journey into one powerful number.
There are some song changes from the original but it is Friedman’s show and she delivers magic time and time again, whose voice is pure, raw beauty and whose effervescence keeps the evening swinging along with laughter, love and tears. I’m now off to buy tickets for the front row.
Performed by Maria Friedman.
Director: David Babani.
Lighting: David Howe.
Sound: Gareth Owen.
Musical Director: Gareth Valentine.
Costume: Morgan Large.
2008-12-07 12:29:55