(seen at the performance on 30th May 2023)
Home is always where you feel most comfortable. For the past two years, up to 8 shows a week, Samantha Barks has called the Theatre Royal Drury Lane just that. A Disney Queen – not a princess, she is at pains to state – in her current career peak moment as “Queen Elsa” in Disney’s hit stage musical version of the smash animated feature “Frozen.”
A megawatt smile, infectious giggle and sweet waves draw us in as she shares her life-story to date via great tunes and some fun special guests. The “Pretty Woman” stunning crimson gown of act one and the low-cut, split emerald dazzler of act two might trip her, she laughed, but she’d laugh it off if it happened – and it didn’t.
“How Far I'll Go” from Disney’s “Moana” (already a theme developing) makes her feel nostalgic for islands. Currently filming the reality-casting TV show for “Mamma Mia! The Musical,” we are reminded of her own appearance aged just 17 in “I’d Do Anything” where she came third in the search for an artiste to play “Nancy” in the revival of “Oliver!” on this very stage. As the gentle call from the audience said, she should have come first.
The girl looking out at the sea from her Isle Of Man home eventually knew what she wanted, and her parents (here tonight) supported her quest. “Waving Through a Window” from “Dear Evan Hansen” a heartfelt power sob for something then just beyond reach.
Finding her own “Glee” crew in high school, and following her philosophy that difference makes you stronger, “I'd Rather Be Me” from “Mean Girls The Musical” opens with the perfect gesture to those less encouraging.
It takes strength to move to study Musical Theatre at Arts Ed when just 16, and on the train her mother knew she wouldn’t come back, but “I’m Not Afraid of Anything” from “Songs for A New World” underlined how Samantha drew on her ambition – and proves how her voice can time a pause for effect.
Her music teacher suggested auditioning for the television show which changed her life. She got to sing “Defying Gravity” for Idina Menzel, and workshop with Liza Minelli, and knows how the contestants she is working with right now feel.
“Slipping Through My Fingers” – which the monkey agrees is the high point of ABBA’s writing and the show “Mamma Mia!” - is appropriate. Dedicated to her grandmother and new-born niece, a reminder how much time is left. It wasn’t only her make-up cried off either... the dust on the orchestra pit cover in front of row A is a disgrace...
A quick podcast cookery tip (get eggshell shards out using the rest of the eggshell – who knew) and happy reminiscences of childhood sick days spent making cupcakes with her grandmother summons “What Baking Can Do” from “Waitress” and a pause to introduce her 5-piece backing band with Mark Bradley as MD; before her first special guest of the night, Bradley Jaden arrives to duet on “Falling Slowly” from “Once The Musical.” Even better sung than on her first album, a number which works in cabaret as well as original show setting.
A little more yearning in “Reflection” from Disney’s “Mulan” before Samantha admits her obsession with “Legally Blonde” and joy at getting to work with Orfeh from the show when on Broadway with “Pretty Woman.”
As character Vivian’s best friend Kit, Barks got to hear her every night. We were lucky enough to this time witness a duet of “I Know Him So Well” from “Chess.” Orfeh’s rich dark chocolate vocal had Samantha’s cream voice pouring over it for the pair to score a massive hit, just as Samantha did last year when singing the role in the concert version at the same venue.
To close the first act, “Never Enough” - her father’s favourite song - had swirls of light accompaniment and is surely Samantha Barks’s calling card for the role of Charity Barnum should the show be staged (ideally at Drury Lane, feels the monkey) some time in future.
The furiously rocking “Nobody’s On Nobody’s Side,” again from “Chess” opened the second act in upbeat fashion, an energy continuing as Orfeh returned for the fun Streisand / Summer number, “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” for the audience to clap along to.
Probably wise to conserve energy with the advice of Billy Joel’s “Vienna” but the crazy child had little to slow down to as special guests “The Overtones” appeared for two well-choreographed lively numbers, “You To Me Are Everything” and Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration”.
For Simply Red’s “Stars” Samantha joined her childhood car-journey favourites in a “pinch me” moment of silky shared vocals.
Back in her own timeline, “I Can Do Better Than That” from “The Last 5 Years” reminds us that she can do comedy as well as wistful. Still, rounding off, an unforgettable “On My Own” from “Les Misérables” was a special moment for all, hearing her cinema hit sung live with a finishing note ballooning out to every far corner of the room.
Warning that she wouldn’t sing “Let It Go” but not prepared to leave Elsa out of proceedings, “Into the Unknown” from Disney’s “Frozen 2” provided the perfect encore moment to end on.
All our futures are unknown, as the fact this concert itself was postponed twice due to world circumstances nobody could foresee. As Samantha Barks proves here, if you dream it and do something about it, life is worth the wait – and this show certainly underlines the fact.
5 stars, standing ovation given.