Sunday 31st August 2014, State Theatre Sydney
The historic State Theatre in Sydney was filled with
John Denver fans on Sunday night and they were not disappointed. New Zealander Bevan Gardiner recreates Denver's sound beautifully and even looks like the man he pays tribute to with blonde hair and western shirt. The show, produced with
John Denver Management approval and support from Denver's personal manager and friend
Harold Thau, is a mix of concert and documentary of
John Denver's life with projections of archival footage and voice over complementing the live music.
The two part show starts on a smaller screen with archive footage of
John Denver, born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr, introducing
This Old Guitar and singing the first phrase. The screen lifts to reveal Gardiner and the band who takes over performing a sensitive rendition which is a perfect introduction to the show as the lyrics "I love to sing my songs for you" echoes Gardiner's passion for Denver's music. It is also appreciated that, during the show, Gardiner explains his love of
John Denver's music so that this is more than just a tribute show where the singer has been cast by a producer. Gardiner shares a bit of his history as a young child learning guitar and hearing Denver's songs on car rides and connecting to the music and lyrics which makes the show more personal.
The "documentary" projected on the screen behind the stage gives a good explanation of Denver's life from childhood to his environmental and political interests and his television and movie roles. Excerpts from interviews with family and friends give a more personal touch than the voice over commentary can provide. Archival footage is used both in the "documentary" and to support the musical numbers.
The selection of the 26 songs from the over 300 that Denver composed shows careful attention to detail in ensuring that they tie in to the documentary and show a broad picture of Denver's life and interests and key successes. The light hearted
Grandma's Feather Bed is used to reflect Denver's love of visiting his Grandmother's Oklahoma farm.
Annie's Song is the ideal song to reflect Denver's first love and
Rocky Mountain High ties in perfectly with the country he called home. Georgie Daniell's solo rendition of
Leaving on a Jet Plane, which Denver composed and became Peter, Paul and Mary's only Number One hit highlights his compositions that were made famous by other singers. Whilst Gardiner recreates Denver's sound, to great accuracy, it is refreshing to note that Daniell does not try to maintain an American voice for her solos as she is not recreating any particular artists songs but providing her own interpretation. Gardiner's rendition of
Take Me Home Country Roads is met with enthusiastic audience participation which Gardiner encouraged throughout the show in the same way that Denver used to do as demonstrated in the archive clip.
Denver's environmental interests and connection to Jacques Cousteau's research is reflected on with footage from his trips on Cousteau's research ship providing a backdrop to
Calypso and the commentary that states Denver donated that the royalties from the song to the Cousteau Society shows Denver's dedication and generosity. His political interest and quest for global peace is presented in the solo of
You Say the Battle is Over and duet of
What are We Making Weapons for with Darryl Walker showing the similarities of an American and a Russian contemplating the futility of war. The crew of the 1986 Challenger disaster, the mission Denver had trained to be part of, were also honoured with
Flying for Me, a song Denver had dedicated to the crew of the ill-fated mission.
Henry John Deutschendorf Sr, Denver's father, is remembered with a rendition of
Wings of a Dream following footage of interviews with Denver's family about his love of flying and the explanation that Deutschendorf, then a retired air force officer, helped Denver learn how to fly his Learjet and flew with him as his co-pilot. Denver's divorce from Annie is reflected in a Daniell's moving rendition of
Seasons of the Heart.
As with Denver's concert programming, the tribute also gathers the love songs into a section and for the concert focuses on his relationship with second wife. Daniell assists Gardiner with a duet interpretation of
A Song for All Lovers, which Denver had never recorded, and
For You.
Prior to a fairly detailed documentary segment on Denver's success and untimely death due to an aircraft crash in an experimental aircraft, the delighted audience were treated to favourites
Sunshine on My Shoulder and
some Days are Diamonds. The final documentary segment covered a fair amount of detail as to the reason for the crash which makes Denver's death seem even more tragic. Gardiner and the band close with
Take Me Home (Wings that Fly Me Home).
Despite the State Theatre House lights being raised before the show finished, the audience that understood that the show had not ended called for an encore and were treated to a repeat of
Take Me Home Country Roads.
Gardiner is backed up on vocals by the members of the band which comprise Musical Director Davey Walker, Allan Cattermole,
James Davey, Darryl Walker, Read Hudson and Georgie Daniell.
Whilst the show has completed the Australian tour it continues on to tour New Zealand and is a must see for any
John Denver Fan and anyone who loves music with lyrics that reach across time and countries to be as relevant now as they were when they were written. .
Take Me Home - The Music & Life of John Denver
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