Elaine Paige, Auckland NZ, 2019

Elaine Paige

22nd January 2019
Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Alexis Brook. Photography by Leah Victoria.

Last night Aucklanders were treated to a great show by the enigmatic Elaine Paige, and her touring band ‘The John G Smith Band’. Elaine’s command of the stage is undeniable; however, this was not the show I was expecting from a “Farewell Tour” with such an extensive career in musical theatre, and it would seem that the audience shared this sentiment.

The ‘John G Smith Band’ is a charming ensemble of highly talented musicians and singer-songwriters. Opening with a lovely instrumental jazzy jaunt titled “Wichita Mountain Dance”, we are treated to several witty and sentimental songs about listening to your partner because they’re right, and if you’re kind and have a big heart you’ll have a very fulfilling life. Masterfully lead by John G Smith on piano and keyboard, and showcasing the talents of Paul Booth on woodwind, Zoltan Dekany on bass, James Graydon on guitar, and Dave Elliott on drums – our toes were tapping, and it was a great opening set.

Entering the stage in a stunning silver tassled dress, Elaine opens her show with ‘Magic to Do’ by Stephen Schwartz from Pippin the Musical, and we were taken on a journey through Elaine’s favourite singer-songwriters including her top three – Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman and Jim Webb. Explaining that as an artist she truly loves to connect to the lyric to sell the story on stage, and how she’s just wild about Harry – we are treated to covers of Harry Nilsson’s ‘Remember’ and ‘Gotta Get Up’.

Interjecting with a story about the perfect Hi-Fi stereo set-up, Elaine shares with us some of her favourite vinyl LPs, which she has brought on tour, chuckling how the Eagles album ‘Desperado’ still has a price label on it for £2.10p and how the harmonies of the Everly Brothers’ inspired her. James Graydon joins her centre-stage for a cover of Bread’s Guitar Man, and Elaine showcases her contralto/tenor vocal range. Another story about a dinner with Paul Simon in the late 70’s led into a solid and sassy cover of ’50 Ways To Leave Your Lover’ and sultry cover of Carole King’s ‘One Fine Day’

By now, there were many murmurs wondering when we were going to hear the songs which we all came to hear. With so much musical theatre repertoire to choose from it was starting to feel like only a covers show – however instead Elaine spoke about the logistics of recording a duet in the mid 80’s when one person is in the UK and the other is in Sweden. The audience perked up at the mention of Barbara Dickson and excitement started to ripple across the theatre as they sensed the next story would be introducing one of their favourite songs from Chess the Musical. “I Know Him So Well” was great to hear live and while it was missing a strong counter melody – as the other half of the duet was echoed instrumentally by Paul Booth on the flute, I’m sure everyone was singing along in their heads, as I was.

Halfway through the show and we have another story about travelling to Liverpool as a teenager for her first stage role, visiting The Cavern and having a fan-girl moment – all of those hints leading into a Beatles Medley from another favourite record – ‘Seargent Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’, where Elaine recalls a “pinch me!” moment she had several years later in her career when she met Paul MacCartney in person and was invited in ‘for a cuppa’ while visiting his recording studio.

It is clear that storytelling is a strength and a passion for Elaine as she leads into ‘In These Walls’ by Jim Webb and ‘Two Little Sisters’ by Carly Simon, with a charming story about visiting her childhood home and reminiscing about growing up there and all the memories that flooded back, but we were also reminded to keep our eyes on the future with a great cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Don’t Stop’.

Another of Elaine’s favourite lyricists is Jim Webb – the writer of the classic ‘Wichita Lineman’, however it was his song “MacArthur Park’ (made famous by Richard Harris) which Elaine chose to share with us, and the emotion pouring off the stage was palpable.

Jesting (but rightly so), that she would be in trouble if she didn’t sing these next songs, Elaine closed the evening with a stunning performance of ‘Memory’ from Cats the Musical and finally, in centre stage under a single spotlight, the song from the role which solidified her stardom in the musical theatre realm, Evita’s “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina” which of course left the audience in a standing ovation and craving more.

Elaine Paige – Wasn’t she good, oh so good.

Were you there at the Bruce Mason Centre for this magnificent singer? Or have you seen Elaine Paige perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Elaine Paige Setlist:

1. Magic To Do – from Pippin the Musical
2. Remember [Harry Nilsson]
3. Gotta Get Up [Harry Nilsson]
4. Guitar Man [Bread]
5. 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover [Paul Simon]
6. One Fine Day [Carole King]
7. I Know Him So Well – from Chess the Musical [duet with flute]
8. Love Is Still The Answer [Burt Bacharach]
9. Beatles Medley (Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / With A Little Help From My Friends / Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds / Getting Better / A Day In The Life / Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band)
10. In These Walls [Jim Webb]
11. Two Little Sisters [Carly Simon]
12. Don’t stop [Fleetwood Mac]
13. MacArthur Park [Jim Webb]
14. Memory – from Cats the Musical
15. Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina – from Evita the Musical

The John G Smith Band Setlist:

1. Wichita Mountain Dance
2. I Need To Think It Over
3. Big Life
4. Always A Woman To Me [instrumental Billy Joel cover]
5. Don’t Waste Time Just Listen To Your Woman
6. We Are In This Together

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