REVIEW: From The Heart (Garrick Theatre)
Star rating: ★★★★★
From The Heart is a celebration of Don Black’s incredible career, showcasing songs from a variety of productions written with legendary composers such as Gary Barlow, Natasha Bedingfield, David Arnold, Debbie Wiseman and Mike Batt. His songwriting is a gift. He mixes humor, romance, heartbreak and nostalgia with ease.
Don Black is a true master of storytelling, with Sunset Boulevard as a clear highlight, possessing an incredible ability to capture complex emotions through simple, meaningful lyrics. His impressive career includes historic shows that have become part of musical and cinematic history.
Starring in this concert are Olivier Award nominee Frances Mayli McCann, soap royalty Shona McGarty, internationally celebrated star Caroline O’Connor, Olivier Award winner Clive Rowe, and West End and Broadway star and two-time Olivier Award nominee Michael D. Xavier. It is an exceptional cast, with each performer bringing their own personality and interpretation to his music.
Caroline O’Connor is an outstanding performer with brilliant comic timing and infectious energy, making her songs a real highlight. Frances Mayli McCann delivers beautifully emotional performances, bringing genuine warmth and sensitivity, while Shona McGarty’s powerful vocals stand out. Michael D. Xavier has loads of charm and a wonderfully expressive voice, and Clive Rowe is delightful, with fantastic vocals and natural humor.
The intimate staging keeps the focus firmly on the music without unnecessary distractions. Featuring just a piano on a smaller stage surrounded by warm lighting, it creates a cozy, atmospheric setting.
Rather than a traditional West End production, From the Heart is presented in a cabaret-concert style that centres entirely on Don’s music and lyrics. The intimate staging focuses attention exclusively on the songs, without unnecessary distractions, a piano on a smaller stage surrounded by warm lighting, creating a cozy and atmospheric setting.
Like the music, the show boasts Don Black’s own stories and recordings of narration, providing a very personal element as he recalls his extraordinary career and the sources of his inspiration. There is a wonderful balance of laughter and heartfelt moments throughout, celebrating the full range of his writing.
From The Heart is a thoroughly delightful evening of musical storytelling and an affectionate tribute to a legendary lyricist.
From The Heart is playing at The Garrick Theatre until 18 October. More information can be found at thegarricktheatre.co.uk/tickets/from-the-heart/.
