BWW Reviews: DAVID CAMPBELL SINGS JOHN BUCCHINO Brings the Composer's Stories Behind the Songs to the Stage

Sydney Premiere

Reviewed Friday 27th June 2014, 6:30pm , Hayes Theatre Potts Point Sydney.

Whilst many may have come to see DAVID CAMPBELL SINGS JOHN BUCCHINO based on David Campbell's local profile, the audience was treated to a wonderful insight into the man behind the music, the award winning, John Bucchino. The show was very much Bucchino's story and Campbell was the voice for the music. It was a delight to see these long-time friends partner for this show and their album, also called, DAVID CAMPBELL SINGS JOHN BUCCHINO.

The intimate space of Hayes Theatre is made to feel like the lounge room of an upscale New York apartment as Campbell and Bucchino start the night with the heart wrenching ballad Sweet Dreams. Campbell tells the story with the right depth of emotion to draw the audience in and is matched by Bucchino's emotive piano accompaniment. The tempo is lifted with Something Spontaneous and Campbell plays to the lyrics showing his cheeky nature whilst the song still has a reflective quality.

Bucchino and Campbell share the stage nicely with banter which shows the long term friendship but its Bucchino's story that is the primary focus. It is wonderful to hear from the creator as to the original inspiration of a song, not just a singer's interpretation. Bucchino shares that a lot of his music stems from relationships and jokes that his relationships are graded on how many songs were inspired by it. This information correlates with the depth of emotion in all of Bucchino's work, both in the lyrics and the music.

Through the show, Bucchino and Campbell share a staggering 18 songs including all the songs included in their CD, which Campbell advised me after the show, had just hit the Top 40 Album sales. In addition to the beautiful songs from the album, the audience is treated to Bucchino singing the comic On My Bedside Table in a manic character voice and Campbell's interpretation of Playbill after Bucchino sets the scene by recounting the inspiration for the piece, illustrating how much Bucchino draws from his own experiences to create the music and doesn't mind referencing other composers in his work. Another delightful inclusion are three songs from A Catered Affair where Campbell covers the range from a 21 year old daughter Jane's Don't ever Stop Saying "I Love You", to her father Tom's deep and angry I Stayed and Bucchino rounds out the triptych with Coney Island from the gay uncle originally played by Harvey Fierstein.

The 11 songs from the album are interspersed through the show and Bucchino is generous with his sharing of their backgrounds including which were inspired by past loves such as Unexpressed and Learn How to Say Goodbye, to the movie musical process and having studio heads to select Campbell as the singing voice for the lead character in Dreamworks' Joseph: King of Dreams (Better than I), and the detail of the thin walls of a Bowery apartment where he'd accompany a saxophone being played next door which is captured in What You Need. The expressive ballads are nicely balanced with the upbeat higher energy numbers such as Puddle of Love and affirming Taking the Wheel.

Whilst the Australian tour draws to a close on Saturday people can still take home the CD or purchase the album for download. When these two pair up again, this show has proven that it will well worth getting a ticket to.

http://www.hayestheatre.com.au/now-playing/david-campbell-sings-john-bucchino-np.html

http://www.johnbucchino.com/

http://store.socialfamilyrecords.com/artist/david-campbell/

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