The premise was good: gather an ensemble of accomplished Australian singers/musicians to perform over 30 of John Lennon’s magical songs. The singers were Diesel, Isabella Manfredi, Steve Kilbey, Adalita and Kevin Mitchell — with musical director and occasional singer Ashley Naylor being the sixth Beatle. Revolving the performers generated unpredictability around who’d sing what and how they’d sing it. Sure, the obvious songs such as ‘Imagine’ and ‘Jealous Guy’ were included — how could they not? But pleasingly unexpected song choices like ‘Gimme Some Truth’ and ‘Dig a Pony’ avoided clichés. Thankfully, the audience was also spared any obvious visual clichés — wire-framed glasses, for example — in favour of more subtle nods, like Manfredi’s all-white suit.
At times, however, the show’s unpredictability wasn’t so effective. Opening with ‘Nowhere Man’ from 1965’s Rubber Soul, for example, might have been a good way to introduce the singers, but made for a rather mellow, introspective start — particularly when followed by the low-key ‘Dear Prudence’. It wasn’t until the fourth number, ‘Instant Karma’, that the energy picked up — thanks largely to Diesel, whose distinctive croaky, bluesy voice and engaging guitar (and sitar) work stamped his mark on Lennon’s songs and provided fitting fuel for the night to step up a gear.
There’s no question regarding the skill of the singers and backing musicians — and every song revealed their combined talent. But some songs came across as safe cover versions and needed either a more creative interpretation, a distinctive vocal or both (even McCartney criticised Lennon’s 1974 solo album Walls and Bridges for being safe, saying that Lennon could create better songs when being more “adventurous” and “exciting”). Mitchell, Adalita and Naylor all sang well, and Adalita and Manfredi’s voices played beautifully together in songs such as Lennon’s powerful ‘Don’t Let Me Down’, but the idiosyncrasies of these four fine Australian singers could have been more fully embraced.
Apart from Diesel, one performer who did give his own vocal treatment to Lennon’s songs was Steve Kilbey from The Church. His first solo performance in the show, ‘I’m Only Sleeping’, was brilliant, giving the track his own spin while still keeping the melody recognisable. At times the characteristic qualities in Kilbey’s voice could also work against him — ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ is not the easiest song for anyone to sing — but he recovered lost ground with solid versions of ‘Mind Games’ and ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’, and the witty personal anecdotes that introduced each of his songs worked well. As one of Australia’s greatest songwriters, he was a perfect inclusion in a show recognising the world’s greatest modern songwriter.
Manfredi warrants a special mention, not only for her compelling stage presence but also for her solo performance of Lennon’s gentle masterpiece, ‘Love’. For such a sensitive song, the pink stage lights and stripped-back sounds of Manfredi’s voice and vibraphone-like keyboard should have been a cue to the audience that respectful silence was called for. Yet several people in the audience felt that this was an opportune time for some flu season hawking and coughing. In spite of this audience cacophony, Manfredi delivered a poignant rendition.
The show had two acts, with the final part of the second act encouraging a more welcome kind of audience participation. The fab five appeared together and delivered a high-octane ‘Come Together’, followed by ‘All You Need is Love’.
For the encore a surprise guest — renowned singer Lindsay Field — appeared onstage in a welcome addition to the show. The final songs were ‘Give Peace a Chance’ and its sassy younger sibling, ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’. This final song came at the right moment, leaving us with a particularly resonant take-home message in this crazier-than-usual world. The song also shows how Lennon’s songwriting genius had evolved over the years, as he deliberately employs in this song the manifestation technique of describing dreams in the present tense — a bit of positive manifesting wouldn’t go astray at this moment.
I would have liked to hear ‘#9 Dream’, but when it comes to Lennon songs, there are too many dreamy numbers to choose from.
Give Peace a Chance – The Words and Music of John Lennon was performed at the Festival Theatre on Saturday July 12
