Arts > Theatre
Whitney - Queen Of The Night
Norwich Theatre Royal
07/02/17
It is almost exactly five years since Whitney Houston tragically drowned, alone in a hotel bathroom in Beverly Hills. And yet, as is so often the case with the untimely passing of musical legends, the magic and the mystique remain very much alive for the legion of fans. Therefore it is a sold out Theatre Royal that welcomes Whitney – Queen of the Night to Norwich for a night of memories and celebration of one of the true giants of popular music. Never a big fan of tribute acts, I have swallowed my old-fashioned male pride tonight and agreed to join what appears to be a largely female audience, partly out of curiosity, but also through a sense of duty towards you, the Outline readers.
Unlike The Bodyguard, a West End musical based on the 1992 film of the same name, Queen of the Night is a musical homage, an evening that sets out to recreate as closely as possible the live appearances of Whitney the singer. Using a six piece band, three backing vocalists and a sensational leading lady in the shape of Rebecca Freckleton, the producers of Queen of the Night raise the bar with this show so much higher than a simple evening of mimicry and approbation. I have, on occasions, called for a Trip Advisor star rating for all tribute acts, but would have no hesitation in awarding this one the maximum five stars. Meticulous research ensures that classic hits, songs like Saving All My Love (For You) and I'm Your Baby Tonight, are delivered exactly as they would have been arranged on Whitney's live tours.
The real Rebecca Freckleton may look more Rhianna than Whitney, and who could ever match The Voice, Houston's extraordinary mezzo-soprano tone and range, but provide Rebecca with the wigs and the glamorous outfits and the transformation is as complete as one could ever hope for. She possesses talent and charisma in her own right, yet manages to capture the essence of Whitney in every way. It is also obvious that she is herself a huge fan. Unsurprisingly, therefore, I quickly surrendered myself, willingly and unreservedly, to the spirit of this show. The three backing singers and the band are all excellent, maintaining rhythm and pace during Freckleton's many costume changes, and each singer given a turn at stepping forward to take a piece of the spotlight. Their choreography is spot on for a show of this nature – there is absolutely no need for large troupes of Vegas-style dancers to distract from the music. The appearance of guest vocalist Dean Spain provides a soulful version of Luther Vandross' Never Too Much that has the ladies in the circle up on their feet and dancing.
Audience engagement is an important part of the show, whether it is the dividing of the men from the women for the sing-backs during My Love Is Your Love, or picking on one person from the front row for a solo moment (well done, Josh). It all encourages a feeling that we are sharing in this together, communing in a mutual celebration of Whitney's life and songs. The climax commences with a monumental and hugely anticipated delivery of I Will Always Love You, after which we are urged to our feet for the floor-filling I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me). Greatest Love of All is the wholly appropriate finale for what this evening has been all about – our love for one of the greatest stars of our lifetimes, the one and only Whitney Houston.