Maria Friedman Re-arranged to 4 May 2008
London.
MARIA FREDMAN RE-ARRANGED.
music by Various
Menier Chocolate Factory 51/53 Southwark Street, London. SE1 1RU To 4 Maqy 2008.
Tue–Sat 8pm Sunday 3.30pm.
Runs 2hr 15 min One interval.
TICKETS: 0207 907 7060.
www.menierchocolatefactory.co.uk
Review: Geoff Ambler 27 March 2008.
Maria Friedman Re-arranged rewards the Menier Chocolate Factory.
Maria Friedman’s last cabaret show, thirteen years ago, netted her one of the many Olivier awards she has been awarded throughout her accomplished and extensive career. Her new show is much more than a chance for the Chocolate Factory to catch its breath after yet another production transfers to the West End. Maria Friedman, with charisma almost as powerful and beguiling as her voice, delivers delight with each song, each performance, each story in an evening every bit as thrilling as I wanted it to be.
Freidman confesses herself that this show's collection of songs has no theme other than demonstrating a passion for the music arranger's craft, something she proves through the evening, weaving new spells through familiar music, releasing magic time and time again, accompanied by an eleven piece band playing more than forty different instruments and a lot of recorders. I couldn’t help become infected by Friedman’s humour, with her personal stories and an obvious joy at performing in the intimate space the Factory is; something highlighted by her confidence, pulling random men from the audience to seduce, dance with, abuse, feed pies or teach the recorder.
Drawing heavily on the work of Sondheim, Friedman’s Worst Pies in London shows how it should be done, with Lucy and Jessie she lights up the space and excites, and Sunday in the Park with Dot is one of those theatrical moments that make great musical theatre what it rarely is, sublime joy with tears. Michael Legrand’s Le Trombone introduces the nights co-stars, the band, and again Friedman packs in yet more energy, Look Over There may recently have moved on from the Menier but Friedman keeps the passions alight with her moving re-arrangement. Each song's context is captured by this most adaptable of actresses, each show's essence re-created; Friedman, always a star, always able to engage her audience consummately.
Maria Friedman’s re-arranged music is unparalleled, and with her unscripted chatter and seemingly spontaneous asides she should continue to charm audience after audience, night after night.
Cast: Maria Friedman.
Designer: Morgan Large.
Lighting: David Howe.
Sound: Gareth Owen.
Musical Directors: Michael Haslam, Chris Walker.
2008-04-01 02:04:21