'Hello, Jerry' at the Prince Edward

The Prince Edward theatre, currently the home of Mary Poppins, witnessed another piece of magic on Sunday 23 September, when it became the venue for a star-studded gala tribute to legendary Broadway lyricist/tunesmith, Jerry Herman - a show scheduled to be aired on BBC Radio 2's "Friday Night Is Music Night" just before Christmas. From the moment the BBC concert orchestra conducted by Larry Blank and the highly accomplished chorus of Capital Voices launched into Herman's blockbuster, "Tap Your Troubles Away" (from Mack and Mabel) the audience knew they were in for a rare treat of musical theatre showstoppers. And for the next 2 hours the cast of John Barrowman, Maria Friedman, Debbie Gravitte and Clarke Peters never failed to deliver.

Peters (Chicago, The Witches of Eastwick, Porgy and Bess) provided his smoky voice of elegance and "cool" to songs such as "Song Of the Sand" and "Look Over There" (both from La Cage Aux Folles). Gravitte (Tony Award winning star of Jerome Robbins' Broadway) belted her way admirably through "It's Today" and wowed the audience with the torch song from Mame, "If He Walked Into My Life". Maria Friedman's programme included a rousing "Hello Dolly!", a beautifully poised "Before The Parade Passes By" that built to a great climax, and a haunting delivery of Herman's standard, "Time Heals Everything". 

The show was hosted with his accustomed charm and panache by John Barrowman, who is now so well known for his television role in hit Dr. Who spin-off  "Torchwood" and as "Maria" and "Joseph" judge that people often forget his astonishing track record in musical theatre. If there was any doubt as to whether Barrowman's talents belong more on the musical theatre stage or on the small screen, those doubts were wiped away during the evening at the Prince Edward. His first solo was a beautiful rendition of "It Only Takes A Moment", followed later by a close to perfect interpretation of Herman's own favourite song, "I Won't Send Roses". Towards the end of the evening he returned to the stage, a genuine diva complete with his pink boa, and sang the hell out of "I Am What I Am" (from La Cage Aux Folles) - a performance that rightly earned him one of the longest standing ovations I have ever witnessed in a West End theatre. 

To add to the occasion, many of the musical numbers were conducted by Broadway veteran and life-long friend of Jerry Herman, Don Pippin - and Jerry himself (sadly unable for health reasons to make the flight across the pond for the occasion) became part of the proceedings when he spoke via a satellite radio link, adding his personal ovation to the quality of the evening's performances.   Yet another standing ovation was prompted by the show's finale - "The Best of Times", which was followed by an "encore" number geared to the show's festive season airing - "We Need A Little Christmas". This seemed a fitting conclusion as Herman's music never fails to lift the spirits into a joyous holiday mood.