I’ll say this from the outset: I adore John Barrowman. Ever since he presented Live And Kicking during my secondary school years, I have been a fan. This is the third time I have seen him live, and the second time at Newcastle City Hall. It has been a few years though – we’ve been kept waiting a while for this tour. From what John said during the evening, we have his popularity on I’m A Celebrity last year to thank for this one, as it got the promoters interested again. It’s a shame it took him eating dubious animal bits to achieve it!
And, thanks to the joys of pre-sales, I got tickets for the third row! Never have I been so close before. Bonus daughter points from my mum, my companion for the evening, too.
As before, I loved the mix of folk in the audience. I go to a lot of concerts by stars from musicals (as you have probably gathered from this blog), and John’s is always particularly eclectic. Lots of people from children up to pensioners, families, couples (lots of same-sex ones, men and women), people on their own, and all chatting and friendly. It’s great and something that can be lacking at the concerts of some other stars.
Of course I was mainly there for the showtunes, but there was a mix of pop tunes in there too. An early rendition of KC And The Sunshine Band’s hit Give It Up got everyone properly in the mood for a fun evening. I was also close to tears (what’s new?!) when John sang Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years as a tribute to his husband and as an ode to equal marriage. Scott joined John later on in the set for a duet. He’s got a bloomin good voice too (and is ‘very good in the shower’ said John, ahem…).
My two highlights were, of course, showtune linked. Firstly, there was John’s verson of The Wizard And I from Wicked (and you know how much I love Wicked). Except it had been reworked as The Doctor And I, in tribute to his Doctor Who and Torchwood character Captain Jack. As he sang it, there was a montage of scenes between Captain Jack and The Doctor and various other Who characters played on the screen behind him. Now if you follow me on social media, you will probably have picked up that I am quite the Who fan, especially David Tennant’s Doctor (although Jodie Whittaker is running him close now). J and I even had a Doctor Who themed wedding, as he is a big fan as well. Honestly. We had a dalek cake and everything…
All in all, it was the perfect mix of things to make me very happy indeed. I’ll take that as an early birthday present (the big birthday is getting very close now – eek).
The other showtune highlight was more expected, as John tends to end his shows with a rendition of I Am What I Am from La Cage Aux Folles, and this was no exception. The audience sings along and John belts it out with emotion, and it is just a brilliant thing to be a part of.
The two hours of the set flew by in a whirl of the most marvellous glittery suits, risque jokes and asides, and (of course) stories and songs. I hope another future tour isn’t so many years in the making, or that John gets to tour in a musical soon. It’s rare that I don’t enjoy a night at the theatre or a concert, but it’s also rare to have such a brilliant experience. More soon, please!
I’ve just arrived back home in York after this little trip, and now J and I are heading straight off to London for another West End jaunt. It’s Present Laughter starring Andrew Scott tomorrow, and I can’t wait.
Clare's theatre ramblings 