Diva Moments

Diva Moments
Christina Bianco. Alex Theatre St Kilda, March 8 & 9, and Hayes Theatre Sydney, March 12, 2017.

People go to the theatre for a variety of reasons – but the majority go to be entertained.

Anyone who is NOT entertained by the extraordinary talents of Christina Bianco is, to put it succinctly, already dead.

It isn’t just that Bianco is a brilliant impersonator who manages to channel other Divas as diverse as Julie Andrews and Edith Piaf, or Barbra Streisand and Kristen Chenoweth; she is a phenomenal singer (the equal of all other Divas) in her own right. Her vocal range and power are astonishing, and her understanding of a lyric is second to none. And that’s putting her amazing gift of impressionism to one side. You could do far worse than buy a ticket just to see Bianco channel Bianco.

But it’s the impersonations that have brought her fame and fortune – largely through Youtube and Forbidden Broadway. As impressions, all of her Divas are….well…impressive. They range from a mind-bogglingly accurate (and emotionally touching) Whitney Houston…sung to honour the late great star….to the equally on point, affectionately tongue in cheek, staging of Andrews, Streisand, Chenoweth and Bernadette Peters. Not only does she sound uncannily like them, in most cases she sounds better than them, even at their peak.

She has mastered Celine Dion so perfectly, even when speaking, that you think you are watching the tall cool Canadian rather than a petite powerhouse.

It wouldn’t be right to dismiss her comedic talents either. A diminutive figure, she elicits laughter without ever resorting to cruelty or bitchiness, and that’s a rarity in this day and age.

More than ably accompanied by the terrific Michael Lavine at the piano, Bianco switches from ballsy belting chest register to full operatic soprano register seemingly without effort.

She is gifted with the art of mimicry, but to be able to sustain operatic phrases, or belt like Christine Aguillera, takes exceptional vocal skills. In short…Bianco has chops and knows how to use them. And her spoken impressions, used when quoting verbatim Streisand’s ego….sorry, vanity…project (a book on decorating) are equally as fine.

If I have a concern (and it’s a minor one) it’s that the show is essentially cabaret and would work even more spectacularly in a club atmosphere with a drink in hand. Theatre generally needs more complexity, a narrative tie….perhaps a script link which explores what makes a Diva a Diva….many great singers never attain that status. But it’s a small niggle…and it’s a great night’s entertainment.

Coral Drouyn

Photographer: Darren Bell

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.