All-time favourites that made for a wonderful evening of entertainment
For all those who love Broadway, last month’s show, ‘To Broadway with Love’ was an evening to remember. As we walked down to the hall, the lights of Broadway with old posters from great musicals on either side created the setting for the show. From then the Oak Room at Cinnamon Grand was alight with selections of the best of Broadway hits of yesteryear.
The stars: Adam Jon and Karen Usha Gray. Pic by Sameera Weerasekera
Two of the artists featured in the show were of international repute. Adam Jon from Australia and Karen Usha Gray from Canada (she migrated from Sri Lanka at a very young age).They were accompanied with great finesse by Soundarie David Rodrigo, the musical director of the show. The show also included guest performances by the Soul Sounds and by ‘Soul’ with RaviBandhu who I must say added an excellent eastern touch.
What a better way to open a Broadway show than with ‘There’s no business like show business’. From the great musical ‘Annie Get your Gun’, it is considered the anthem of Broadway. The Soul Sounds accompanied by Soundarie did more than justice to that, along with other songs, among them ‘Talk about Love’, ‘Need a Hero’, ‘Twenty one Guns’. The uniformity of their costumes and graceful choreography set the tone for the evening.
Then we heard from a distance that ever popular ‘The Hills are Alive’ from The Sound of Music’. Karen’s entrance was awesome, her delivery of this song captured the audience instantly. ‘Summer time’ was breathtaking and her stage presence was quite something. My favourite ‘Don’t Cry for me Argentina’ was full of heartfelt emotion. Every song she sang you could not take your eyes away even for a moment as she had so much expression. Her designer red dress was captivating, in fact I could not remember any other singer who ever held my attention in the same manner, and judging by the pindrop silence of the audience I could say the same of them too.
When it came to ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ Karen dedicated the song to the producer of this show Jith Pieris as that was the song she sang when she was eight years old at her first public performance at the BMICH. Jith was the producer of that show too. The appreciative audience applauded this tribute.
Adam Jon was indeed a surprise as you could not imagine that such a powerful voice could emerge from his slim frame. ‘If I can’t love her’ from ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘Stars’ from ‘Les Miserables’ are two lovely songs from two great musicals. His rendition of both had the audience mesmerized. Soul Sounds accompanied Adam for the next two songs from ‘Lion King’ ‘Circle of Life’ and ‘He Lives in You’ this combination adding a fresh dimension to the production. The other two songs ‘Dancing through Life’ from the popular musical ‘Wicked’ and ‘Man about Town’ from ‘Young Frankenstein’ were sung in lighter vein. Adam Jon with this variety of songs and his youthful good looks captivated the audience. Karen and Adam took the stage together to sing an all-time favourite ‘All I ask of You’ from ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ – it was indeed wonderful.
The audience was more than pleasantly surprised at the presentation, the changing backdrops and subtle light effects that were overall exceptional. It was indeed a deliciously entertaining evening for a very good cause. All proceeds will be donated to the trust fund that helps with the education of estate children.