Review: Keith Jack – An Evening at the Musicals, Brunton Theatre

Published on Monday 12 October 2009 10:01

Keith Jack – An Evening at the Musicals **** Brunton Theatre

THERE are moments when an audience stumbles across a group of young talented upstarts whose names they should really file away for future reference. Such was the case here.

Sadly, no programmes were available, meaning that forever more the citizens of Musselburgh will be leaning into their television sets muttering: "I'm sure I saw that lass performing round the corner once."

Leading the pack with a disarmingly subtle and humble rendition of a host of musical classics was Dalkeith's favourite son and Denise Van Outen's second favourite Joseph, Keith Jack.

His performance ably proving Van Outen's judgement that the former Any Dream Will Do contestant does have the potential to be the next John Barrowman.

Yet, while he's got the looks, the charm and the voice to become a massive West End hit, there's something amiss in his presentation. Where his delivery diverges from the Torchwood actor's, it's in the cocky stage-dominating confidence that Barrowman exudes from every pore. It seems that Jack still has a long way to go before he achieves that same swagger, his lack of confidence stripping layers of polish from the show's professional sheen.

While pausing between songs to chat to the crowd, although warm and self-depreciating, Jack was hesitant and somewhat shy. It's an issue that desperately needs to be addressed.

Vocally, however, he has few worries. Jack's deft handling of Phantom of the Opera's Music of the Night and Jekyll and Hyde's This is the Moment had the audience riveted.

Taking over Jenny Douglas's co-starring role, due to illness, were supporting singers Georgina Castle and Beth Shoreburn. Castle taking on many of Douglas's parts in the first act, including Mary Poppins' Supercalafragalistic alongside Jack's cheerful chimney sweep singing in an accent even Dick Van Dyke would consider suspect. Their Grease medley was a far more attractive and crowd-engaging piece. Her lead in ensemble performance All That Jazz from Chicago oozed sophisticated sass far beyond her 16 years.

Forsaking a live band to make space for four well-choreographed dancers and a large choir of children from local company Razzamatazz in the second act of the show did no favours for the performance's overall sound quality, particularly with early microphone imbalances.

The second act, however, dazzled. Good, understated direction teamed with excellent lighting and the Joseph songs everyone had come along to hear had the audience singing and clapping enthusiastically along. An encore of We Will Rock You and Mamma Mia brought the cheering room to their feet in a standing ovation.