Review: Touring Legendary Duets

What a glorious evening of song and mirth is to be had in the company of supertalents Wayland Pickard and Deborah Johnson in Legendary Duets! Facing each other at dueling pianos, Pickard and Johnson play, cavort and sing. As one gets up to solo, the other assists with background accompaniment. Pickard is most definitely the comic and Johnson is straight-man. Behind is a screen with projections of the singing artists in question. And there is a variety of music explored: rock from the 50s, 60s and 70s, country, the classics, Hollywood film tunes and Broadway pop.

Highlights of the evening, divided into two acts and subject to change, include: Richard and Karen Carpenter "Rainy Days and Mondays", Joe Cochran and Jennifer Warrens "Up Where We Belong", Carole King and James Taylor "You've Got a Friend", Clive Griffin and Celine Dion "When I Fall in Love", the Captain and Tenille "Love Will Keep Us Together", Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie "My Endless Love", Simon & Garfunkel "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" and Sonny & Cher "I Got You Babe". From the world of country, there's Johnny and June Carter Cash "Ring of Fire", Marie & Donny Osmond "Little Bit of Country", Roy Rogers and Dale Evans "Happy Trails" and single salutes to Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Randy Travis and Patsy Cline's "Crazy". Of course, there's the dueling piano artists themselves from the past Ferrante & Teicher "The Theme from Exodus" and present day, the ever popular vocalists Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli with the ever popular "The Prayer". The list goes on and on. There's something to suit everyone's taste and pleasure.

Apart from his virtuoso piano artistry, Pickard's forte impressions are a hilarious Michael Jackson, Elvis, George Burns and Louis Armstrong - and his Liberace, which has a show all to itself, Liberace: Back From Heaven. He even takes on Clint Eastwood and Arnold Schwarzenegger here, as well as Kermit the Frog.

Apart from her virtuoso piano playing, Johnson's strongest asset is her vocal range, which is astounding. She not only sings rock and pop, but essays Puccini and Christine from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera. Amazing!

Music, music, and more music! Fun, fun and more fun! Run, don't walk to purchase tickets for Legendary Duets when it travels to a venue near you.

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