Pennsylvania Avenue

this was a total brilliant knockout here's my rave for Sydney Arts Guide http://www.sydneyartsguide.com.au/pennsylvania-avenue-at-the-playhouse-sydney-opera-house/ This is one of the best shows on in Sydney at the moment. The show is brought to us by the sensational team that brought us the wondrous Songs For Nobodies- writer Joanna Murray-Smith, director Simon Phillips and fine musical direction by Ian McDonald leading an impressive band. The amazing Bernadette Robinson plays Harper Clemence, a White House worker who is retiring after forty years. George W. Bush is now President but is “dumber than a bucket of rocks.” She has her last box packed and in her arms, yet she is not quite ready to leave- just yet. Having worked in the East Wing since the first weeks of the Kennedy presidency there are so many memories of organising Presidential entertainment and various First Ladies to reflect on… Murray-Smith’s terrific script interweaves Harper’s personal story with her tale of the history of US presidents, and how during her time she observed history in the making and met so many famous people. It all began with JFK and Marilyn. Harper was back stage for that famous 1962 birthday concert and advised Ms Monroe to scrap the knickers to avoid visible panty line. The show goes on then to cover all the performers who sang for the President, creating history and defining the times. Harper’s character starts off bright rather naif and perky but ends up sophisticated and rather caustic. The set is the Blue Room , with portraits of six Presidents (actually digital photo images that change to become beautiful landscapes, stained glass church windows, important paintings and various photos of assorted Presidents and historical events such as the assassination of Kennedy, the Vietnam War protests and Reagan’s Brandenburg Gate speech) . The excellent band is hidden behind the blue curtains. Robinson, a blonde pocket dynamo, ,enters elegantly dressed in a pant suit. She brilliantly transverses accents and voices from opera to rock to country and western to jazz. Robinson reveals Harper’s Southern charm yet hidden vulnerability, melancholic yet with a secret shame balanced by dry wit. She has excellent comic timing making caustic comments about assorted White House folk. The script incorporates witty comments and asides about her bosses and various Presidents – including Reagan, Kennedy, Nixon, Clinton and Ford. Robinson is astonishing as she uncannily channels various iconic visitors to the White House, including blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe (with her breathy, mesmerizing Happy Birthday Mr President) and Maria Callas just for starters.From the crystal purity of Amazing Grace to country and western ( Tammy Wynette – Stand By Your Man) and everything in between Robinson is simply amazing. Not forgetting Sarah Vaughan, Diana Ross and even Bob Dylan. There are so many other highlights! Where to start ? Each character is sharply defined and vividly brought to life. She is magnificent and brings the house down as Barbra Streisand ( People and a spitfire Don’t Rain on My Parade). Harper apparently clinches Streisand’s engagement to Elliott Gould by helping her get John F. Kennedy’s autograph. She sizzles dynamically as Peggy Lee in Fever – a volcanically ‘cool ‘ version – and a major highlight is the intense, shattering version of Eartha Kitt’s dramatic version of Brel’s If You Go Away. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face was exquisitely performed, and brought tears to the eyes. The Sarah Vaughn jazzy version of I Got Rhythm had everyone bopping along and Cry Me A River brought the house down. Ella Fitzgerald features early in the show and Diana Ross delivering I Hear a Symphony was also inspiring whilst the empowering Aretha Franklin’s Respect had us cheering. This was a mesmerizing, powerful and hypnotic performance that filled with one wonder. Running time – roughly 90 mins no interval PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE is playing at the Playhouse, the Sydney Opera House until the 22nd May. http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/whatson/index.aspx