HELENA Blackman will perform songs from Disney movies at a special show at the Waterside next month.
The West End star and finalist in the 2006 BBC TV show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria is the first to dedicate an entire stage-show to performing Disney classics, from Aladdin, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and the Little Mermaid.
The singer hopes that by hearing the ‘music out of context’ theatregoers will appreciate ‘the full range of it’ and enjoy hearing the songs in their entirety. Blackman is best known for narrowly missing out to Connie Fisher in a public vote to decide who will play Maria von Trapp in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage version of The Sound of Music.
The idea for her new tour came about by accident. She explains: “I was doing a cabaret show and wanted to pick something a bit different. I suggested a Disney song and we decided to do a medley. It was really well received and everyone got really excited.”
Describing the show, she says: “It is not a history lesson but it does take you back to the films. They are just pure magic and spectacular and so beautifully written and positive.
“One of my favourites is Beauty And The Beast, I was 10 when that came out, the perfect age. But I also love The Little Mermaid and Lady And The Tramp.
“There is something for everyone from the last 80 years. It will attract a really mixed audience which is what we wanted. Not just children.”
Unlike other shows at the Waterside, Blackman’s Journey To The Past tour does not rely on huge backdrops to fill the stage.
“It is just me, it is very intimate we are not a massive visual show. It is just me chatting to the audience. It is all very informal. We are purposefully not going to venues where it would look scarce with just me on stage.
“The main thing is the music. You only get to hear snippets from the films. I think people are finding its really beautiful to hear it out of context.”
{http://www.atgtickets.com/venue/Aylesbury-Waterside-Theatre/128|Helena Blackman will perform in Aylesbury Waterside Theatre’s second space on March 3. For details visit www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury|Click here for more}
