WASO has shown us their impressive versatility and range in their production of An Evening On Broadway. Bring on the glitz, glamour and smoke machines, the night combined the dynamic energy of a vibrant orchestra with stunning soprano Amy Manford and the ever-charming Josh Piterman, both powerhouse West End veterans.
Photo credit: Daniel James Grant
With the orchestra helmed by conductor Jessica Gethin, an audience favourite, who also hosted the night, we were treated to a well-curated programme of Broadway favourites. The evening started off strong with an instrumental medley of Broadway showstoppers that set the mood for the night’s proceedings. Particularly memorable for me was Manford’s crystal-clear rendition of My Fair Lady’s ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’ – one of the first songs she performed professionally – delivered with such emotion that I had chills.
The chemistry (and banter) between the two singers was so much fun, with them joking that, as with any longstanding professional partnership, it was common for the relationship to spill offstage as well. However, this decidedly did NOT happen for the two, eliciting giggles from the audience. It was the perfect segue into the quirky duet, ‘Anything You Can Do’ from Annie Get Your Gun.
The evening delivered the perfect balance of singing and orchestra-only numbers. WASO’s performance of ‘The Jellicle Ball’ from Cats, complete with electric guitars, was particularly special. So was their ‘Symphonic Dances’ from Fiddler on the Roof. In between, the duo delivered multiple heartstopping hits, such as the powerful ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’ from Evita, and Josh Piterman’s stunning ‘Bring Him Home’, sung by Jean Valjean in Les Misérables.
The pinnacle of the night for me was their final number – a medley from Phantom of the Opera. Piterman’s spine-tingling ‘The Music of the Night’ was sombre yet emotive, before the duo launched into the climactic ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, replete with smoke machines and dramatic lighting. Particularly meaningful was the reprise of Piterman and Manford’s roles as the Phantom and Christine Daaé, given that the two of them have shared the stage many times, both in Australia and internationally, as the iconic couple.
It was a satisfying showcase of crowd-pleasing Broadway hits as well as more obscure numbers to please the hardcore musical theatre buffs – something for everyone. I found myself mouthing the words to almost all of the songs. An exhilarating way to spend an evening. Every performer was richly deserving of the standing ovation they received.