Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute

Subject: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: Emma B
Date: 31 Jan 06 - 09:45 AM

I was lucky enough to get tickets for the Eureka Theatre production "Over the Rainbow - The Eva Cassidy Story" at the delightful Pomegranate theatre in Chesterfield last weekend.

Lasting nearly 4 hours with a 20 min interval the performance included 27 songs and one composed in memory of Eva by the author.

The firat act in 8 scenes (using back photographic projections) depicted Eva's life from age 10 to 31. I found the dialogue owed more to The Waltons than Shakespeare and the attempt to show the influences on Eva's singing and attitude to her work not entirely convincing.

The second act in 9 scenes covered the last 2 years of her life. The scene recreating the atmosphere of the Blues Alley Club was alive with raw energy and the actor portraying Chuck Brown was just electrifying!

The final scene where Eva was carried into the Bayou Club to sing her swansong was deeply moving and I spotted a few men discreeting dapping their eyes inbetween my tears before the cast received a well deserved standing ovation.

After an exhaustive tour of England, Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands last Autumn the Spring tour starts in Jersey until today and is then in various places throughout England - if it is comes to a theatre near you it is definately not to be missed IMHO

for tour details etc see www.evacassidylifestory.com

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: Beer
Date: 31 Jan 06 - 10:02 AM

Thanks Emma. Hope it comes my way. Always loved the lady.
Beer

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 09:59 AM

Sounds awfully long to cover what was actually an all-too-brief career. But I'm glad to see there is something like this out there. Is it only playing in the UK?

SRS

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 10:02 AM

Sounds as if it needs a bit of editing to sharpen it up before it gets "into town".

RtS

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: Felipa
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 10:11 AM

I didn't think much of the show nor did the two others like it.
It was too long and was not a very interesting story (Eva Cassidy's life was not that exceptional though it was too short). The music was enjoyable of course, though I didn't think the singer sounded like Eva. (I don't know whether we saw the same cast as Emma did)
Roger's suggestion about the show is probably right.

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: GUEST,Mudcat: The director
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 11:05 AM

Is she the bird who sings other peoples songs really really slow?

Dance my pretties

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: breezy
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 11:11 AM

We accept the Director's lack of knowledge and subsequent indescretion.

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: GUEST,Mudcat: The director
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 11:16 AM

Crawl out your own arse Breezy or I shall ban you forever

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: Emma B
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 11:43 AM

I'm pretty certain the actress playing Eva was a different person for the Spring tour Felipa.
Both myself and my two friends (one is a professional muscian) thoroughly enjoyed the production and Julie Forester's interpretation of the part although, as I said, I did not think too much of the dialogue, particularly in the first act, but with a total of 28 songs that would be a minor criticism.

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 09:18 PM

Sounds like the first act could go entirely and improve the performance. The ideas "less is more" and "leave them wanting more" may well apply here.

SRS

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: Moses
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 06:42 AM

Enjoyed the show as staged at the Arena in St Albans a couple of weeks ago.

Dialogue and acting could have been better but the songs were performed with feeling and passion.

I think they get different actors/actresses to rotate the main parts but I don't know as I didn't buy a programme.

Christine

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: GUEST,JK
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 04:25 PM

Hi all, saw the show at Hull New Theatre and it didn't seem to last 4 hours!!..But it certainly was brilliant...the singer sounded more like EVa than Eva herself..she was a really petite slightly built singer/actress with the most brilliant voice...I ought to make the effort and go upstairs for thge programme>>>>Hang on....right I'm back!! We saw it Oct 2005 starring (programme quotes...)..'texas Rose Carmen Cusack'..she has performed in many West End productions including; Phantom of the Opera & Les Miserables...she also sings as a jazz performer at the cafe de Paris, in Leicester Square...currently developing her own first solo album...I was bowled over by her performance alone and would certainly look out for her again! Cheers Jane

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: breezy
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 04:33 PM

unbannable me.

Directors, dictators , all the bloody same as far as I'm concerned, cant do it themselves so they they like to be control freaks and impose their will on others.

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: skarpi
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 05:07 PM

hmmmm
I hope it comes here ,
did you know her brother Dan Cassidy lives here in Iceland, Reykjavík
a great fiddle player.
He plays in a Band call " PAPAR "

All the best Skarpi Iceland.

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: GUEST,Gail, Leeds
Date: 17 Feb 06 - 02:24 PM

I discovered Eva Cassidy singing my favourtite song, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and didn't think anyone could sing it like the wonderful Judy Garland. However, how wrong I was! Since that day a few months ago, I have booked hooked. I cannot get enough of her wonderful, haunting voice. I went to the Eva Cassidy Story stage play on Wednesday 15 February 2006 at The City Varieties in Leeds (Nicole Faraday was playing Eva) and took my 18 year old daughter with me - a novice to the theatre - and we were spellbound. How anyone can say anything bad about a talent lost to us forever us beyond me. God certainly sent her to us to do what she did. When she sang Fields of Barley I was in tears. The whole audience were crying at the end. It was wonderful. If you get a chance to see this stage production at a theatre near you, please do - you will not be diappointed.

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: GUEST,sue
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 08:26 AM

I watched nicole in Birmingham last week-she was fantastic as an actress and sounded just like eva especially on autumn leaves,and fields of gold.I would say,go,go,go!!

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From:
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 05:31 PM

CAN YOU GIVE ME THE DATES FOR THE NEXT EVA CASSIDY TRIBUTE CONCERTS COMING UP. I MISSED THE ONE IN WEYMOUTH LAST NIGHT. THANKYOU

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: GUEST,sue
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 09:41 AM

Its on in bournemouth at the pavillion n 8th-then croyden 9th and 10th.think it goes to chelmsford and peterborough too.look up theatre productions on google.good luck!¬

Subject: RE: Review: Eva Cassidy stage tribute
From: GUEST,Sølva Ford
Date: 16 Mar 06 - 09:30 AM

I miss you Eva.

You gave me so much isperation in Iceland.
Such a greate voice and so gentle as a persan.
A beautifull lady and a friend.

Marita is very proud of the jewlery box you made for her.

You´r in all of our hearts.

Sølva