Assessment: West Finish Periods, Brook Mews Wine Bar

Assessment: West Finish Periods, Brook Mews Wine Bar

Upstairs at somewhat wine bar not removed from Bond Avenue station, the small viewers are carrying a mixture of smart-casual, precise good and positively glam. A few of the ladies have made an effort too. We’re right here for a comfy night of track courtesy of seasoned musicals performer Daniel Koek and a few of his business friends.

Accompanied by sensible pianist Ollie (sporting a picket bow tie however bereft of a credit score within the publicity, so I can’t let you know his full identify) on a tiny stage, no person within the viewers is quite a lot of yards from the motion as Dan, together with Rob Houchen and Kerry Ellis, takes us by three acts of songs from traditional musicals. It’s actually an up-close expertise, and the performances of all 4 are beautiful.

The present begins with Rob and Dan duetting on “Deliver Him Dwelling” from Les Miserables, which instantly units the tone for the night: exceptionally completed singing together with some simple banter between all three singers – generally even mid-song.

Staying with Les Mis, Rob provides a solo efficiency of “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” very a lot inhabiting the function (as he ought to – he’s performed Marius within the West Finish manufacturing) earlier than Dan joins him for a duet of “Maria” from West Facet Story.

It’s time for Kerry Ellis to take to the stage, which she does after somewhat wrestle to seek out her method by the viewers. Her’s might be the largest identify on the invoice, however she has an easy presence and suits in completely with the convivial tone of the night. However her supply of “Reminiscence” from Cats is something however informal – her timbre and management are astonishingly completed, and he or she breathes thrilling new life into the outdated favorite.

Subsequent up is Dan singing “Gethsemane” from Jesus Christ Famous person, which Kerry precisely remarks is “an enormous track for a really small room” earlier than she lifts the temper with “Any individual To Love” from We Will Rock You, persevering with with “Who Needs to Stay Endlessly” from the identical present, with Dan sharing vocal duties. A Queen triple invoice is accomplished by Rob singing “Loopy Little Factor Known as Love”.

As you possibly can in all probability inform, the set listing is tilted firmly in direction of ballads and torch songs, which because it occurs is my very own choice, so I used to be in my ingredient. One in all my most-loved songs is “Anthem” from Chess, which just about had me in tears by its second bar. This can be a fantastically emotive track when sung solo, however the depth was magnified by the harmonies as Dan and Rob sang it collectively.

A late spotlight is Kerry singing “Defying Gravity” from Depraved. Right here the vocalist provides a masterclass in management as she takes command of the melody with astonishing poise.

Earlier than giving us a slowed down association of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”, Rob explains his choice for “performing” songs fairly than merely performing them. I feel it’s true that each one three singers give heartfelt accounts of the songs, although maybe Rob is alone in not adjusting the dimensions of his efficiency to suit the tiny venue.

West Finish Periods is because of be a month-to-month fixture, with ticket costs beginning at £35 a head. That’s nothing in comparison with the worth of a West Finish present nowadays, and also you’re unlikely to bodily get any nearer to stars of this calibre.