(seen at the performance on 14th October 2024).
For those who don’t know, (possibly) after her elder brother left for catering college, young Jane won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Inspired by the teaching of visiting lecturers Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, she forged a remarkable career with the Royal Shakespeare Company until a tragic incident involving a retractable dagger and a badly adjusted codpiece.
She fled to the high seas, where a BBC film crew were amused by a cruise ship cabaret singer who only knew the first line of “River Deep, Mountain High” yet stretched it to a 40-minute set. That was good enough for Channel 5 too, and the rest is on the Palladium stage tonight.
Jane McDonald is first-class, old-school entertainment. Everything the monkey loves about how the British relax. Straight-talking, hilarious banter with her adoring audience, whom she often recognises by voice and names (Jess and Liam). Good old innuendo and shared experiences from vacuuming to divorce and bereavement.
Of course, McDonald does it with her voice. Songs she has written, songs that she covers in her unique style. She is given full production values, five video screens with animations and photos of her past. Two plinths for her backing band under MD Sean Barry, and two talented vocalists Suzie Bonner and Brian Chambers.
In a blaze of well-timed and considered lights, she delivers over two hours a surprising range of ballads, rock, pop and even a couple of show tunes.
Opening with “Winner” and moving on to fan favourite “Doctor’s Orders” the slight country vibe shines through, and the first of the clap-a-longs begin.
Cheerfully admitting to sounding like Mrs Doubtfire as she chats to a fan, and posing cheekily for photos on each side of the stage, some banter with pianist Bobby Crush (also seated in the audience) intersperses “You Don’t Know What You Got” and “The Hand That Leads Me,” a beautiful sentimentally honest number.
On to “The Singer of Your Song;” and with many more double-entendres the power kicks up with “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” perfectly lit to match and with unusually good sound balance to assist.
Gleefully admitting she “learned everything off ‘Ru Paul’s Drag Race,’ next up is a clean version of “Cake by the Ocean” as only a Northern lass can.
First show tune of the night, “For Good” from “Wicked,” and first special guest, her close singer friend, Googleboxer and P.A. Sue Ravey on stage and also in fine voice. Admitting it is the first time in four shows they got the number right, it scores a direct hit on the emotion button.
Closing the first half, “You’re My World,” popularised by Cilla Black in the UK, had the crowd eager to drink up at the bar before the promised heady gear change of act two.
A Cher Medley to begin, “If I Could Turn Back Time,” “Strong Enough” and “Believe” getting the audience up and dancing for the first time.
“Let The Light In” offered hope in the face of failure, before Jim Pitchford, percussionist and backing vocalist, took to centre stage in duet “I See It In Your Eyes” – the hit that more than repaid her divorce costs.
More holiday camp humour before going disco with “Summer Night City” (obligatory New York skyline projections) and “Dance Yourself Dizzy” (apparently a reference to her late partner’s band, according to a fan next to the monkey).
In true straight style, after laying out her exit strategy (“don’t leave until have my white suit on”) we get “Home” from musical “The Wiz” in a considered delivery.
First encores “Live for the One I Love” is paired with “Rise Like A Phoenix” – a notable rendering of Conchita Wurst’s 2014 Eurovision hit for Austria.
The monkey joined in holding a light for a lost one as “You Still Lead Me,” a tribute to her late mother, sung with thoughtful reflection.
White suit on, and ending on disco, “Instant Replay”, “This Is It” and finally “Relight My Fire” had Jane McDonald leave on a wave of energy and adoration.
If those who claim to govern us were there, they would have heard the booing with disgust at their winter fuel policy. They would have seen (but not understood, nor cared) that everything – every scintilla - of true British character they and their tiny-minded vocal minority who dictate how we should act, count for nothing.
Real British people gather as they always have when they want fun, and this is it. Authentic, gutsy, blowsy and resilient. Humour and truth, but most of all, with all our love indeed.
4 stars.