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Musical theatre tribute a delight

Nikki Weber
weber

Nikki Weber does it again!

This time it was A Tribute to Musical Theatre, with professional guests and exceptional local talent.

Daniel Neff was an opera star. He regaled us with his rendition of “Poor Little Oyster” from Smitty’s restaurant. He finished the last two songs with “Just the Way You Look Tonight.” Wonderful!

Other highlights were “Ol’ Man River” sung by Julian Alphilbert, a member of the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir.

Then our own Trudi Diening singing “Papa Can You Hear Me?” from Yentl. Trudi told of her own childhood growing up in Holland, similar to the story of Yentl. It gave the song a personal touch with her soul-sounding voice.

Joy Germaine with her comedic dry humour and sexy movements sang “Hey Big Spender” and a medley of “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Your Face” and “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly.”

Bev Nielsen surprised us with an Italian aria, “O Mio Babbino Caro,” a step up from her usual jazz. It was a treat to hear the classical side of her voice.

Jacquie Allan was a delight as co-host and singing appropriately the perpetual weather forecast, “Soon It’s Going to Rain.”

Greg Soohen did an outstanding job on his very first solo, “Some Enchanted Evening.” Well done, Greg!

Karen Edgar started the singers off with a song from Les Miserables, “I Dreamed a Dream.” The other singers from her group Java Jazz sang too – Jane Metcalfe, Laurie Frissell, Jan Gillis and Joan Vernon.

Accompanying all the singers was The Gibsons Trio led by the talented Miles Black on piano, Boyd Norman on bass and Sacha Fassaert on drums. Their solo was “Rhapsody in Blue.”

The closing songs from Phantom of the Opera and My Fair Lady sung by Shelly and Allen Nienhuis were delightful.

The whole show was one of Weber’s best, since she tried to retire again at 89. We look forward to the next one.

– Submitted by Stephanie Biggs