Blue – The Songs of Joni Mitchell

You know you are in for a special evening when a few bars into the opening song, the hairs on the nape of your neck stand on end. Queenie Van de Zandt has been treading the boards on the musical stage and in cabaret for many years and her wealth of experience is evident. She woos an already attentive audience with her smooth and emotive voice and leaves you wanting more.

Blue – The Songs of Joni Mitchell is a tribute to the blonde waifish folk-singer of the sixties, who out of necessity turned her poetry into lyrics and started playing the bars and clubs around her native Canada. Mitchell describes herself as “a painter derailed by circumstance”.  Mitchell’s music reflects her disillusionment about love, life and social issues and attitudes of the time.

Van de Zandt retells Mitchell’s story through voice-overs and storytelling. Candles and soft lighting adorn the stage; a feeling of reflection is created as Van de Zandt talks about Mitchell’s early life. Van de Zandt captures raw and revealing moments as she interprets the heart-wrenching lyrics of ‘Little Green’ and ‘River’. Giving us a backstory before the songs gave them depth and allowed the audience to be fully immersed in the experience.

You don’t need to be familiar with the work of Joni Mitchell to fully appreciate this show. Van de Zandt paints a portrait of Mitchell as a complex and emotional woman who felt deeply about all around her and had a gift of relating that to her audience. The same could be said for Van de Zandt. There were many times I was swept away by the beauty of her voice and stage presence.

Backed by a talented three-piece band, this show was thoughtful in its interpretation. This tribute to Mitchell’s 1971 album ‘Blue’ was a once in a lifetime experience and finishing the evening with a sing-along of ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ left a buzz in the air.

Kerry Cooper

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