REVIEW: HOLLYWOOD GHOSTS, Jermyn Street Theatre, November 9

Leanne Masterton's intimate concert, Hollywood Ghosts, at the Jermyn Street theatre was an intriguing, informative and highly enjoyable evening. Firstly, the stories of the sadly almost unknown vocal stars of countless Hollywood musicals - Marni Nixon, Betty Wand, Carole Richards, India Addams, et al - were highly engaging. And, of course, the show was full of songs from some of the greatest of all movie musicals - The King and I, My Fair Lady, West Side Story, The Sound Of Music, Carmen Jones, etc.

But what made the evening something really special was Leanne Masterton's performance, ably accompanied by musical director Leigh Thompson at the piano. Stylish and sassy, powerful and poignant, Miss Masterton delivered all of the well researched anecdotes with great warmth and well-timed wit and when she sang she demonstrated her great vocal versatility - hauntingly touching with the Rodgers and Hart classic My Funny Valentine, lyrically dexterous with Schwartz and Dietz's Two Faced Woman, sultry jazz-toned with Gershwin's Summertime and blowing the audience away with the Rodgers and Hammerstein anthem, Climb Every Mountain.

The songs and commentary were woven together seamlessly, enhanced by intermittent projections of clips from some of the movies referred to, so that - at least for this one magical night - the great singers who ghosted for the Hollywood stars were honoured with the recognition they deserve.