BARBARA DICKSON -CAFE ROYAL, LONDON
(The Stage And Television Today- - 1993)
Barbara Dickson's appearance at The Green Room is quite a departure from the other artists who have recently performed there. While she has certainly had her fair share of show success, her appeal is by no means simply related to her leading roles in musicals such as "Blood Brothers".
Dickson has also had some notable pop hits including "Answer Me", which reached number nine in the charts in 1976, and was, she commented, the first and last time she travelled to 'Top Of The Pops' in a white limousine.
So what was interesting about the singer's choice of material was its lack of songs under the above headings. Instead Dickson clung to her folk roots for much of the time, and while dwelling on some of her favourite songwriters, decided to sing some of their more unusual compositions.
Making a quite nervous start she began with the old, including a nicely handled rendition of "Falling In Love Again", sung both in English and German, only taking a few minutes breather before moving on to the seventies with Paul Simon's "Still Crazy After All These Years".
But even this wasn't enough time travelling for the lady. Determined to create the folk atmosphere she loves, a 19th Century temperance song entitled "Farewell To Whiskey" was next. This was quite an uplifting tale but after it was combined not long afterwards with "I Think It's Going To Rain Today", and James Taylor's "Millworker", the mood couldn't help but become a little bleak. More balance at this point in the proceedings would have helped the pace here.
A brief look towards her show material was certainly welcome. Her version of Willy Russell's "Easy Terms" from "Blood Brothers", a role she won an Olivier award for, still conjures up a tear or two - it's probably the best interpretation I've ever heard.
Following the incongruous combination of a carol and Beatles song from "John Paul George Ringo...& Bert", Dickson chose the most appropriate of endings by singing a lovely version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", with a very rarely heard verse.
Helped by the talents of her musical director Ian Lynn and the multi-talented Pete Zorn who played everything from the penny whistle to guitar, Dickson could certainly make her mark in such an environment as this one. But a good injection of spark and relaxation would certainly help her set be more exciting than simply pleasurable next time round.
(Lisa Martland)
