Firstly a couple of very important warnings. The show is selling out so buy your tickets before reading the rest of the review. OK? And you have to get there early as the free coffee, tea and pastries was hoovered up before I arrived at 10.20.
The show (Sunday) started late due to the sound tech being still in bed at 10:25 when they rang him! We slowly shuffled in at 10:40 and the tech ran in at 10:45 to ironic applause. I don’t know if it’s the room (not built for its sound qualities) or the sleepy tech but there were problems with too much bass and an echo in the early part of the show.
Donald Hawkins is from Luton (North London) but has worked in Belgium for many years and it was being in Jacques Brel’s homeland and a series of failed love affairs that encouraged him to get on stage and work his pain out through the songs of M Brel. Donald has two keyboard accompanists who also help him with some of the stage jokes and backing. The songs are alternately sung in the original French and English, with some of the translations being very recent. There is also an accompanying story for most of the songs which helps give emotional import to the occasion.
Now, while I would not call Mr Hawkins an excellent singer, he does have the ability to wring the essence of emotion out of the song and the audience were enraptured for much of the show. He also performed a couple of non-Brel songs, the best of which was the Edith Piaf one and the least effective was Desperado (I prefer the Linda Ronstadt version). Although I think it is really a show for late in the evening, in a smoky pub, with lots of stereotypes sitting at little tables, I can honestly say it is an excellent way to start the day. Book NOW. Sorry if I haven’t written the names of the Brel songs for you but I would murder the French titles and it’s much better being surprised when he starts your favourite, isn’t it?
Visit the Fringe website for bookings details.