Gig review: John Barrowman, Glasgow Green

By FIONA SHEPHERD
Published on 23/06/2012 02:22

BEING a showbiz trouper as well as a native Glaswegian, John Barrowman was not about to let typical Scottish summer weather get in the way of a good time.

Fortunately, the thunder, lightning and downpours of the day had moved on before the perma-grinning entertainer took the stage for this open-air mini-extravaganza.

Given his status as a musical theatre favourite, Barrowman is not the most impressive, emotional nor distinctive vocalist – at one point, he was outsung by a young relative in an impromptu guest spot – but he can get by on his infectious presence.

In front of a home crowd, including members of his family in the front row, and with an accent set permanently to gallus Glaswegian, his camp enthusiasm bordered on pantomime at times.

High-kicking show tunes, easy-listening oldies and holiday camp standards by KC and the Sunshine Band and Kool and the Gang were all performed with a cheesy glee by Barrowman and his game musicians, including a hand-jiving brass section who even got their hands in the air for another beige Gary Barlow song.

Although this made it difficult to take the straight renditions of the big, swelling ballads seriously, Barrowman’s good cheer and generosity towards his fans was genuinely heart-warming and his ability to make a big gig in a park feel like an intimate, informal get-together was a skill in itself, carrying the show through its uneven patches.

Rating: ***