Festival Theatre Stage, 10–11 June

Hugh Sheridan’s concerts sold out in a second, and deservedly so. Whether this was because of a new-found love for Anthony Newley, the subject of his show, is a moot point, and the place wasn’t “Packed to the Rafters” for nothing, but if anyone found themselves there under false pretences, they were converted in an instant.

“What kind of fool am I?”, he sang, and it was as if many of the singers of that great song were with you on stage.

“I want it now” from Willy Wonka was done in full music-hall style, and ‘Stop the world, I want to get off’ with big-band gusto. But for the many Newley songs that have become known throughout the world, it was in the performances of a few less familiar tracks that Sheridan soared to unimaginable heights. “I Am Feeling Good”, from the near-forgotten musical The Roar of the Greasepaint was a transporting experience.

Sheridan embraces Newley so completely, that as he recounted, as Newley, the death of his son, the tears streamed down his face: now that’s commitment.

“Who can I Turn To?”, he sang.  James Bond—or Shirley Bassey, more to the point—may have made “Goldfinger” their own, but Newley still wrote it, as he wrote the heavenly “Pure Imagination”, and the list goes on and on.

Sheridan has a gorgeous voice, flexible, supple, versatile, from the slightest whisper to the Broadway belter.

This young man from Adelaide could, and should, be the next big thing to come out of Australia. He’s got matinee idol looks, he can sing, he can dance, he can act. It must be something about Hughs from Australia.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed