What: An Andrews Sisters Tribute
Where: Norwood Concert Hall
Duration: 90 minutes
Genre: Music / Cabaret
(Reviewed by John Glennie)
An outstanding performance by outstanding local performers. Three Little Sisters are three Adelaide professional singers (all singing teachers) who put together a brilliant show. The Norwood Concert Hall was a great venue for this with the main floor set up for those who wanted to book a table while the rest (peasants like me!) were upstairs in the gallery – so everyone had a great view.
The show worked through the history of the Andrews Sisters from the time they produced their first record in 1937, through a tense split when Pattie went solo, back to reuniting in 1954. A very clever and well thought out production with an MC who explained the history and acted as interviewer – he would ask a question and then a recording of the real Andrews Sisters would present their reply.
The three singers looked the part – dressing in the costumes relevant to the eras – and sounded exactly like the famous trio. Patty taking the lead, Maxene singing high harmony and Laverne the low. We heard all their classics including Cheek to Cheek, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boyand Rum & Coca-Colato name but a few.
There was a brief intermission, after which the MC proved to be a brilliant singer in his own right. After the second half opened with a video of the Andrews Sisters singing with Bing Crosby (including a brief appearance by the great Bob Hope), he took to the stage and sang Bing Crosby songs with the Three Little Sisters (Tania Savelli, Shelley Pantic & Melanie Smith). The sisters even went onto the main floor and set at a table to sing, then wandered around the other tables to the delight of the audience.
The band were also superb backed by The Band Of the 10th/27th Battalion Royal South Australian Regiment. Their history dates back to the Light Horsemen and they have performed at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Mid way through the second half, after we learned of the departure of Patty to pursue a solo career, and heard the song performed by Maxene and Laverne lamenting the fact that they always gave Patty the lead role! A humorous song which, in its day, did nothing to ease the tension between the sisters!
However, the sisters re-formed in 1954 and we were treated to some of their later Swing songs with half a dozen dancers coming out to strut their stuff to the delightful music.
This was not just a show for oldies (like me!) but appealed to all ages. A youngster in her early twenties was sitting next to me and thoroughly loved it – I found out that one of the Sisters is her singing teacher and even though she sings modern pop herself in pub gigs, she was enthralled by the Swing / Jazz / Big-Band music performed.
I would highly recommend this to any music buff, but their last show was Sunday 24thL
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