22 December 2013

A wonderful year for Sydney audiences!

It’s holiday time at last, and time to relax and reflect on a year soon gone in a flash. Here in Sydney it’s been a great year for all aspects of entertainment, we’ve seen world standard performances and been blessed with a steady flow of unforgettable experiences in the theatres, stadiums and cabaret clubs.

I’ve looked back at the reviews and pieces that got the most attention from you readers, what you liked, shared, clicked and commented on. So here is the review of my year on Guidetogay.com, collenwindsor.com and facebook.

Cabaret

It’s been a great year for cabaret and such a broad variety of artists played in concert halls to pubs with Kristin Chenoweth getting my gong. Best known on-stage for creating the role of Glinda, the good witch, in the original Broadway and West End productions of Wicked, Kristin Chenoweth toured capital cities after appearing as the headline act for the opening weekend of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. I saw her concert at the Sydney Opera House which was packed to the rafters with her amazingly appreciative fans.

Ms Chenoweth sang songs covering her whole Broadway career, Cabaret, Avenue Q, Glee and of course Wicked. This concert included one of those ‘you had to there moments’. Sitting in the house seats was Lucy Durack, Australia’s Glinda; Kristin called her up on stage to sing with her. Kristin asked Lucy to sing Glinda’s part to her Elphaba’s part of For Good. Goosebumps were flying up the neck of everyone in the hall – a truly electrifying and unforgettable moment. I wrote in my review at the time “this was as good as cabaret gets”.
Concert
 
A massive year for ‘world tour’ concerts calling by Sydney and apparently they all did huge business - Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Rihanna and J Lo amongst them. But the gong here is all Pink’s The Truth About Love record breaking extravaganza!  Pink played the most dates, stayed the longest and grossed the most revenue – Australian audiences love her and she gives back to every ticket holder in spades. They even shot the DVD in Melbourne for US release next year.
 
The concert had heart, was very creative in its look and feel, production values as good as any, and the most amazing circus aspect I’d ever seen.  The playlist featured mostly from the album of the tours name with a very tight cast of singers, dancers and an awesome band. Pink is the ultimate all round entertainer but at her core a brilliant singer.