Following a brief video-briefing from M…M….Mike, we are passed into the very capable hands of femme fatale Ella McCready, resplendent centre stage in shimmering red sequin dress, supported by a full band.
The scene is set for a journey through the music of Bond in the more than capable hands of Fringe music experts, Owl….. Night Owl. So, relax into the superior comfort of real leather upholstery, and the stunning acoustic of The Symposium Hall.
All the expected songs are here, but also some welcome surprises. And these are not mere copies. McCready’s brilliantly Jazzy, upbeat version of Nobody Does it Better, is quickly bettered by an elastic and colourful interpretation of, For Your Eyes Only, a sure improvement on the dour Easton original. McCready’s range is exceptional, working equally well in the low keys as well as the high, and with a bouncy, seemingly effortless transition.
However, it is when McCready duets with lead guitarist Alex Beharrell in the Quantum of Solace theme, that this is taken to the next level, there is a power and electricity which is tangible, and clearly galvanises the audience, who whoop their appreciation.
Beharrell, is also in great form in the finale – but I’ll let you guess that one!
Royalty restrictions limit what can be shown on video screen, so no Bond film clips, which is a shame, but nevertheless, this is a cleverly curated and narrated show, and a thoroughly enjoyable and nostalgic 50 minutes of high quality music.
Reviewer: Greg Holstead
Reviewed: 12th August 2024
North West End UK Rating:
Running time – 50mins
It's Christmas Eve, snow is falling, and in a traditional Irish pub a group of…
Oh, the irony: they seated us in Row F while the stage was full to…
Opening the Croydonites Festival of New Theatre, Hannah Maxwell's one-woman show, Turn Your F*cking Phones…
Appearing on stage in front of a draped red curtain, Temi Wilkey’sLover Girl is tantalisingly…
Few historical events have embedded themselves in popular culture quite like the sinking of RMS…
With plenty of suspenseful twists and turns, Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’ creeps into the Sheffield…