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| ProdID: 347 - EltonJoelPerformed byKim Hoffman & Deryn Trainer | Product Score: 5.0 |
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This show relives the Face to Face world tour that Elton & Billy did in 1999. Featuring Kim Hoffmann as Sir Elton John and Deryn Trainer as Billy Joel, this great show creates a sensational tribute to the greatest Rock/Pop artists the world has ever seen. More than just a re-creation of the legendary 1996 "Face to Face Tour", EltonJoel delivers two modern-day duelling Mozarts singing the songs you've always wanted to hear in the intimate venues you've always wanted to see them in. A two hour spectaular of solos, duets, costumes and theatre supported by an extraordinary band of notable musicians. A superb show that plays tribute to the greatest songs and piano men of our time! |
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Well, it was an unusual night, to say the least. Having grown up listening to Elton and Billy, I expected something close-but-not-quite, since an impersonator who pulls off a perfect clone-act is rare indeed. The night started early. Knowing my seat was front-row, thus easy access, I arrived 20 minutes before the show was to start to avoid queues. As I approached, I found the entire audience, cast, crew and staff outside, while the fire department investigated the alarm which was howling away happily. I am a firm believer in omens and portents, and I should have listened to this one I think. Hindsight is wonderfully, annoyingly clear. After we all returned inside and were seated with minimum fuss (the Regent Theatre staff are great, even under pressure), the lights dimmed and we heard a cheesy intro by one of the band members. They reached for their instruments and gave us a smokey, LOUD opening... during which 'Elton' and 'Billy' came on, bowed (though you could hardly see them in the billowing clouds of ether-smoke covering the stage) and sat themselves at their pianos. The songs were... mediocre. OK, they were good to listen to, but there was something lacking. And that bloody ether-smoke kept obscuring half the stage every time someone hit the button! The poor backing vocalist, dressed in white, in front of a pale backdrop, kept getting lost! However, she did a wonderful job of this often-thankless task. There were places throughout the show that she basically kept it alive. Here's a list of the highlights as I saw them: One song I feel compelled to comment on, "Goodnight Saigon"... this song was perhaps the only Billy Joel song I had not heard previously, and it was very poignant, and powerful. Truely one of Billy's best, and Deryn sang it with feeling. About the most impressive song of the whole show. Shortly after that they dropped the curtain! We had Elton's "Rocketman" but where was Billy's "The Pianoman"? As a pre-planned ad-lib encore, 'Elton' returned to the stage dressed in his trademark sequined white tux and hat to join 'Billy' in singing 'The Pianoman' - a high-energy version that rounded the show off. Overall, Hmmmmmmm... though I couldn't find any MAJOR fault with the show, there were enough little glitches and flat-patches to leave me feeling somewhat unimpressed by the whole thing. A sentiment I heard echoed by a great majority of the audience as we departed. Some were even leaving their seats BEFORE 'Elton' and 'Billy' had even gotten off their seats! A telling indication. I mean, even at the movies people usually don't start to leave until the credits are rolling. But here, there was a definite rush for the doors. |
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| Printed at 08:09:16pm on Tuesday 15th July 2025 |
