Elizabeth Surbey

BERNADETTE ROBINSON IN DIVAS @ THE PLAYHOUSE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

The Diva is our musical goddess, in both popular music and opera, adored yet also known as somewhat “difficult, temperamental and demanding”.

Bernadette Robinson has joined with Simon Phillips (Director and Collaborator) to create a showcase of ten famous female voices.

Bernadette Robinson is renowned for her hit solo shows involving song including Songs for Nobodies and Pennsylvania Avenue.  In this show she demonstrates an extraordinary skill and vocal ability across a diverse range of songstresses – Kate Bush, Shirley Bassey, Karen Carpenter, Edith Piaf, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Barbra Streisand, Maria Callas, Amy Winehouse, and Judy Garland.

Vocally so different ……difficult and demanding. The show has a cabaret style vibe and intimacy as she presents each artist with a glimpse of their lives and music. 

The support band each contributed the musical skills needed and were technically dextrous. Mark Jones (Musical Director) on Piano/Keyboards, Jonathan Skovron on Guitars/bass/keyboards and Graham Hunt on the drums and percussion. Each also blended deftly with vocal backup. Pre-opening of the performance, seeing the lineup of mics and stands I had hoped there might be female back up voices in the mix.

On the whole the artistry is evident, though the ‘show’ is at times awkward. The choice from which of the seven plus chairs or standing stations she should present appearing too random. The transition between each artist is also without purposeful narrative. A single costume with only brief shifts in jacket transitions and glaringly sparkling shoes were affective enough. The Warhol style images on a banner above were lit to assist identifying Divas of the show’s title.

However, I was enamoured with the opening Kate Bush interpretation. “Running up that Hill” has become more than a single generation’s anthem. A popular invocation of Shirley Bassey was a crowd pleaser and Ms Robinson’s Maria Callas was faultless. Each singer was brought to life with the singer’s scripted banter in their spoken voice.

This became a distraction for this reviewer. Robinson’s ability to vocally mimic in the songs was strong, however, the attempt to speak to us from another ‘life’ did not build the rapport nor pathos I had hoped for. This musing about their lives might have best come from Bernadette Robinson’s own voice.

The audience overall were delighted, and many were quick on their feet in ovation with the conclusion of the over 90 minute showcase opening night.

I saw  the evening performance of Bernadette Robinson in DIVAS at the Playhouse, Sydney Opera House on Friday 4th August, 2023.

Program

Kate Bush
Wow
Wuthering Heights
Running Up That Hill

Shirley Bassey
Diamonds are Forever
This is my Life

Karen Carpenter
We’ve Only Just Begun
Rainy Days and Mondays

Edith Piaf
Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
La Vie En Rose
La Belle Histoire D’amour

Dolly Parton
Jolene
Dumb Blonde
I Will Always Love You

Miley Cyrus
Wrecking Ball
We Can’t Stop X Where Is My Mind
Flowers

Barbra Streisand
The Way We Were
I’m The Greatest Star
Being Alive

Maria Callas
Cadenza
Una Voce Poco Fa
Vissi D’arte

Amy Winehouse
Back to Black
Rehab
You Know I’m No Good

Judy Garland
Over The Rainbow
The Man That Got Away
There’s No Business, Like Show Business

Review by Elizabeth Surbey

Published by Elizabeth Surbey

Elizabeth had a passion for theatre and performing from her youth and was a keen contributor to the joint school musicals- mostly the Gilbert and Sullivan romps. Once she headed to university this passion dominated with a 4 year stint at UNE in Armidale encompassing both performance and directing as major components of her Double Major in Drama and Major in English Literature. The year after graduation she found herself not only at the newly formed Actors' Centre but also teaching high school drama. She is still there, teaching, directing, writing for high school Drama and on the side across the years has performed in small season productions at Q theatre and directed several productions for the Short & Sweet program being a part of the inaugural group. Keenly she has represented other drama educators as committee member then President of Drama NSW also representing NSW on the National Committee at Drama Australia National Conferences. She completed her MA a century ago also with a focus on Drama & Theatre at UNSW. She is now a mum of two and recently directed her sixth Musical - perhaps now coming full circle in the scheme of things. She was contributing and consulting editor on a major Drama text for Cambridge Uni Press "Drama ReLoaded". More than anything she loves theatre and is very keen to share her experiences with this forum. Each year she directs secondary students in plays from Australia and across the globe, in productions large and small.