Caroline Nin: Songs & Stories of the Paris Lido.

A show with such a title promised slightly more than was ultimately delivered. While Caroline Nin's vocal talents are undeniable, and her sense of humour (when it emerges) can be delightful, her narratives are not quite engaging or striking enough for the performance to be considered an all-around brilliant one. Not to mention that, for this writer at least, her persona and repertoire felt slightly closer to that of the German, rather than French, tradition. Nevertheless, Nin's show is a solid bet for an hour well-spent.

Nin's choice of a black dress and gloves at the start of the show (costume changes would come later) tended to dampen the upbeat vibes of the music, which was - glad to say - superbly performed by a combo that included a couple of hometown lads. The musos added colour of both the dramatic and quirky kinds.

Nin has a rather curious stage presence, frequently projecting a detached formality. At times she is almost spectral; ghostly even - then the emotional reserve thaws out, leaving her interacting and slyly joking with her appreciative audience (even successfully incorporating a three-part audience sing-along).

Not all of her attempts at playfulness convince, but she generates laughs when they are needed (particularly with her cute impersonation of an Aussie accent), then gets back to impressing us with her vocal technique and her flair for drama (particularly in a show-stopping 'Big Spender' and multi-lingual ‘I Will Survive’).

An Edith Piaf finale was a wise one to go out on. Though by now it's a somewhat familiar brand of showstopper, it's churlish to quibble when Caroline Nin delivers as well as she does.

Anthony Vawser