“Well Above Average - The Crowd Enjoyed Every Minute”

Tribute concerts to well-loved musical icons are always popular at the [Swansea] Grand, and this celebration of two of America's most prolific performers was no exception, attracting a large and discerning crowd.

Avoiding the predictable format of simply having two people imitate Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond, this show followed the formula associated with the likes of Beyond the Barricade and Westenders, in which singers with their own vocal styles re-interpret well-known numbers without resorting to slavish impersonations.

It is all too easy to dismiss those who participate in such shows as also-rans who have never got beyond the ranks of the chorus, but even a cursory glance at the extensive programme notes revealed that the foursome who performed here have been involved in some very high profile productions.

Sweet-voiced Lauren Harrison and Lisa-Marie Holmes - a vocalist with a gutsier and more full-bodied style - treated the audience to a variety of numbers made famous by Streisand, including People, Stoney End, Everybody Says Don't, The Way We Were and Don't Rain on My Parade, while Stephen Weller and Tim Harwood ran through Neil Diamond's back catalogue, delivering songs ranging from I'm a Believer (composed by Diamond for The Monkees) and Forever in Blue Jeans right through to a medley from his foray into movies, the remake of The Jazz Singer.

For sheer entertainment value, this was way above average and it is fair to say that the crowd enjoyed every minute.

Well worth catching when the company makes a return visit to Swansea.

Graham Williams, South Wales Evening Post - July 2009.

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