The Sweetest Sounds – Sarah Hay in cabaret and Pizza on the Park
It takes a certain amount of focus to pull off a dinner cabaret. There’s the constant chinking of glasses, clinking of cutlery, confused waiters serving the wrong orders, not to mention the inconsiderate chatter of incoherent diners. Only the most seasoned of artistes cope.
West end stalwart Sarah Hay is one of these. Dominating the intimate room at Pizza on the Park with understated elegance and unflappable charm, she transfixes the audience with her lilting soprano as she pays tribute to ‘the sweetest sounds’ of Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Structuring a one woman show is a daunting task. Too many performers fall into the trap of merciless biography, while others merely rehash a tried and tested back catalogue. Hay circumspectly opts for the middle ground – subtly weaving her own experiences around the work of two musical theatre greats. The effect is seamless and touching.
Opening with a medley from The King and I (one of Hay’s first roles was understudying the role of Ann Leonowens), she takes us on an imaginative musical journey, forging unexpected links between songs and thereby charting Rodgers and Hammerstein’s enduring legacy.
Lesser performers may have wallowed in nostalgia, but Hay introduces numbers by established modern composers – a rendition of Dillie Keane’s Much More Married is delivered with near perfect comic timing, blistering cynicism and exemplary vocal control.
The real delight of this show, however, is derived from Hay’s daring use of new material. Life Story, a song about creativity, regrets and acceptance from the David Shire and Richard Maltby show Closer Than Ever, is pure poetry. Hay’s poignant, contemplative performance reminds us of what West End musical theatre could be if the great British public would only risk straying from the banal pop catalogue format of the noughties. Then, perhaps, we truly would have the kind of show that Rodgers and Hammerstein could be proud of.
Sarah Hay will be appearing again in ‘The Sweetest Sounds’ at Pizza on the Park, 11-13 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7LY on Sunday 11th October at 7pm. Tickets can be booked on 08456 027 017. http://www.sarah-hay.co.uk/cabaret_solo.php
