Looking Through a Glass Onion
A Day in the Life, Norwegian Wood, Come Together, Revolution, Strawberry Fields, Starting Over, Jealous Guy and Imagine are some of the greats featured in John Waters’ production of John Lennon in Word and Music Looking Through A Glass Onion. Waters’ voice sounds a lot like Lennon and in some songs, particularly ballads, you could close your eyes and think you’re hearing the man himself.
Waters seems to really be in his element when he’s belting out gravelly songs. He has a strong, resonant voice that really sounds rock ‘n’ roll, however, sitting at the Opera House which has a certain ambience of elegance and serenity, this show made me feel like I should have been somewhere more authentic and urban like a trendy bar or pub in the inner city with people hooting, clapping, cheering and generally having a good time rather than sitting stiffly in fabric seats. Apparently the pub setting is the type of venue this production started out in way back in 1992 at the Tilbury Hotel in Woolloomooloo. The show then went on to do two sell out tours here in Australia before hitting London’s West End.
Being written in first person, Waters speaks Lennon’s words with the Liverpudlian accent sharing with us insights into his life e.g. “Yoko and I did this, then I went here and performed there...” etc. I personally prefer third person with the element of storytelling about the artist, as seen in the recent touring production of Darren Coggan’s Peace Train – The Cat Stevens Story.I feel story-telling allows us, together with the artist, to go on a journey into the life and times of one of the all-time legends of popular music.
Waters has all the perfect components - rock star looks, fantastic voice, great band, funny offsider, Stewart D’Arriettawho can play knock-out piano and is the most charismatic performer of the night but there’s something missing for me. I don’t feel connected or moved by Waters as a performer. He doesn’t invite us into his space, we’re not ‘in with him’ - something’s lacking and I can’t put my finger on it, if you like to really engage and feel like you’re a part of the show, you’ll feel this more from Stewart D’Arrietta than Waters. D’Arrietta is more of a showman; he’s funny and animated and an absolute gun on the piano.
December 8th marks the 30th anniversary of the death of John Lennon so in tribute to the genius this is the perfect show, you can ‘imagine’ you’re witnessing the words and songs of Lennon himself.
Emma Bell
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