Jason Robert Brown, live & intimate, with Rachael Beck

Cheers and whistles almost overwhelmed the more standard applause which greeted Broadway composer / lyricist Jason Robert Brown to the stage of Sydney’s Parade Theatre. There was a rock-star feel to the adulation of the greeting he received from an audience which saw Sydney’s Gen Y musical theatre practitioners turn out in force. Saying this, it’s an evening of equal pleasure for a baby boomer music theatre fan like myself.

Jason Robert Brown hasn’t had the kind of hit shows that would attract professional producers in this country, but his Tony Award winning score for Parade and his delightfully engaging songs for 13 suggest a major Broadway hit with international legs is in the wings.

Maybe it will be the new musical on which he is working, an adaptation of Bridges of Madison County, from which he, and concert co-star Rachael Beck, introduced us to two numbers. This, alone, despite the initial snickers, was worth the price of the admission.

In the meantime, he’s a real performer’s composer, capturing the essence of characters superbly in songs which are cabaret staples, and stand alone splendidly.  I’d guess that every young performer in the house has at least one of his songs in their audition / cabaret / party piece folio.

Brown is a superb jazz pianist, and from the outset you felt that his accompaniment was a definitive interpretation. In the first half of the show, he also sang the quirkier, more comical male songs, in terrific counterbalance to Rachael Beck’s wonderful, resonant interpretations of the sensitive, emotive songs for he writes for women.

Brown’s act one finale, the touching lament of an isolated 13-year-old Jewish geek on his Bar Mitzvah in Being A Geek, delivered large on pathos and hinted at a more serious side to the singer / songwriter we would also see in Act 1.

Brown clearly loved the night, and why would’t he, in the aptly named Parade.

A must see night for musical theatre fans of any Gen – don’t miss it.

Neil Litchfield.

Graham Ford's review of the Melbourne performance follows.

Jason Robert Brown had slipped under my radar until I was invited to review the opening performance of his Australian tour. The 800 seat theatre was only two thirds full so I wasn’t alone in being unaware of this extraordinary talent.

I quickly discovered the theatre was full of “groupies”. Mainly young, they knew his music and instantly recognized opening chords of many of his songs. They probably could have sung along.

Brown is a song-writer with a number of musicals to his name, including Parade, for which he won a Tony Award for Best Score. A superb jazz pianist, he also sings well and has an easy stage manner, confident, but not egotistical, and very funny. He has also recorded songs with his own band. He thanked the audience for downloading so many for free he couldn’t afford to bring the band!

And the songs! There was nothing of Sondheim here, though equally difficult. Some were very funny, but it was the poignant songs that got me. He seemed to capture awkward moments and make them very real, with the music fitting perfectly.

His guest was the inimitable Rachael Beck, who matched him beautifully. Her unaffected manner and expressive singing were a delight. “I’m not afraid of Anything” from Songs for a New World was a particular highlight, displaying her vulnerable sensitivity.

An amazing pianist, Brown said he felt sorry for the piano, which winced when he approached. In introducing his last song he did so with joy as it would be the last time he’d “have to play this f…g piano!” It was a disgrace that someone of his calibre was expected to perform on such a sub-standard instrument.

If you get the chance, this is a night at the theatre you would not want to miss!

Graham Ford

Further Tour Dates

Sydney- Monday 7th March - The Parade Theatre, NIDA. 

Brisbane- Friday 11th March - Qld Conservatorium Theatre, South Bank.

Perth - Wednesday 9th March - The Octagon Theatre, UWA, Crawley.           

Adelaide- Wednesday 16th March - The Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre.

Read Our Interview with Jason Robert Brown - Click Here

Further Tour Details - Click Here

Photographer: Kurt Sneddon