Venue: Garrick Theatre, London
From The Heart is Don Black’s personal tribute to the New York cabaret scene that has inspired his remarkable career, featuring brand new songs written with composers such as Gary Barlow, Natasha Bedingfield, David Arnold, Debbie Wiseman and Mike Batt, brought to the stage under the musical direction of Joe Church, with arrangements and musical supervision by Nick Barstow.
At every show a surprise special guest will take to the stage before the evening culminates in a spectacular medley of some of Don Black’s most iconic songs, including classics Born Free, Ben, Love Changes Everything, With One Look, To Sir With Love, and As If We Never Said Goodbye, as well as a special salute to his long history with James Bond.
There are some evenings at the theatre that feel different and special, particularly when they are dedicated to celebrating a lyricist. Composers often receive much of the recognition, yet the words layered into the music are just as important, and From the Heart is a brilliant reminder of that. Playing in London for a limited run from 8-18 October, this concert performance celebrates the work of Don Black, whose lyrics have become a central part of the current musical theatre world.
From the Heart brings together five West End actors, Caroline O’Connor, Frances Mayli McCann, Shona McGarty, Michael D. Xavier and Clive Rowe, all with their own connections to Black and his work. The theatre programme itself has also been put together very well, featuring thoughts and memories from people across the theatre industry who worked with Don Black throughout his career.
The staging is sleek and simple, with the band positioned in the middle at the centre of the stage, giving the musicians the recognition and spotlight they deserve. A reminder of acknowledging those behind the scenes who are often not as much in the limelight. The evening opens with From the Heart, and then Black himself provides narration throughout the performance, sharing stories from his life and the inspiration behind various songs. This is a thoughtful way to tie everything together and give the pieces more meaning and connection. The lighting by Ben Cracknell is another highlight, using spotlights and colours effectively and giving the concert a real Broadway feel.
There are plenty of standout numbers, with Clive Rowe being a particular highlight. He opens with Doctors, where he showcases his brilliant comic performance and charismatic character. With many having grown up watching him in The Story of Tracy Beaker, there is something quite special and nostalgic seeing him now belting musical numbers on stage, and doing this brilliantly as well. Rowe also provides a very impressive performance in I’d Go to Bed Earlier, bringing in a real rawness and emotion to the song, which becomes one of the most moving moments of the evening.
Frances Mayli McCann also is able to showcase her sublime vocals in Black’s pieces, particularly in Unhealable. There is such a prettiness and innocence to her voice that make the lyrics very poignant, and she is able to bring real tenderness to the music.
Another standout number was Fizzy or Still, a duet between Clive Rowe and Michael Xavier, which offered one of the funniest moments of the evening. This is a brilliant pairing, providing great comic chemistry, funny choreography and some of the most satisfying harmonies of the show. Caroline O’Connor also gets her moment to shine with Life Goes On, while Straight Men, featuring all three female performers, is another fun highlight, with Caroline bringing plenty of humour.
Each performance of From the Heart’s 10 day run, features a special guest, and opening night welcomed the legendary Michael Ball, who has his own longstanding connection to Black. His performance of Love Changes Everything was certainly a real treat.
It was evident that there was a lot of respect towards Black and his work, which was demonstrated on stage by all the performers remaining visibly seated on the stage while their fellow cast members performed. This created a key sense of togetherness and respect, as though everyone was there not just to perform the songs but to celebrate Black and his work.
As the evening progresses, the concert moves from some of Black’s lesser-known songs into a medley and compilation of his more familiar numbers. It was great to start out with the less familiar material, as this gave the lyrics space to shine and showcased just what a talented lyricist he is. The closing medley brings plenty of recognisable favourites, from The Self-Preservation Society to a James Bond mashup.
There is also a lovely nod to Sunset Boulevard, with Caroline delivering a beautiful As If We Never Said Goodbye. However, it is Michael Xavier’s return to the iconic Sunset Boulevard song that really stood out, having played the role of Joe Gillis on the West End ten years ago, seeing him perform the iconic number here feels like a fitting tribute to the show.
At the end of the evening, Don Black joined the performers on stage to celebrate the opening night, providing a fitting end to an evening celebrating his work.
From the Heart provides a wonderful reminder of just how much the lyrics matter to a piece. It can be easy to focus on the composers and the music, but this concert gives Black’s words the recognition they rightly deserve. Hearing the stories behind the songs makes you appreciate them from a different perspective, and this evening also provided a great opportunity to discover some of Black’s lesser-known work alongside the familiar favourites.
With a fantastic cast, some moving moments and plenty of humour, From the Heart is a stunning tribute to the extraordinary career of Don Black. You don’t need to be a regular musical theatre-goer to enjoy this show, although fans will particularly appreciate the chance to celebrate an iconic lyricist whose contribution deserves far more recognition. A really lovely evening celebrating Don Black, his words and the people who bring them to life. Don’t miss out on the chance to see this show at the Garrick Theatre until the 18th October.
You can book tickets to Don Black's From the Heart here.
Review by Alex
**photo credit: Eamonn B Shanahan**
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