HUGH JACKMAN - IN PERFORMANCE Dazzles San Francisco Audiences

Equally at home at San Diego's Comic-Con as he is on Broadway, Hugh Jackman charmed all of his fans in the world premiere of Hugh Jackman In Performance.  The showman par excellence took his San Francisco audience through a dazzling musical scrapbook of his life and career singing songs from past shows and performances, as wells as some of his own personal movie favorites.  His voice soared; he was electrifyingly sexy, funny and pulsating with pizzazz.  Let me tell you - the Boy from Down Under did not disappoint.

Backed by a 17-piece orchestra (conducted by Boy from Oz alum Patrick Vaccariello) on a smoke-filled set, Jackman began singing "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" in the wings, stage left, ramping up anticipation for that first glimpse of one of the sexiest men alive (according to People Magazine and everyone lucky enough to be in the Curran Theater that night).  When he finally appeared the crowd went wild.  Dressed simply in a light blue dress shirt and black slacks, he waved and flashed a smile, acknowledging all three tiers of patrons as well as his wife (an Australian megastar in her own right) Deborra-Lee Furness.

Jackman's movie star charm and commanding Broadway stage presence were very much apparent throughout the show, but perhaps even more compelling were his genuine warmth and infectious laughter that spilled out into the theater and made for a wonderful night.  He seemed to be enjoying the crowd as much as they were enjoying him.

By way of introduction to one of the first songs he confided that the X-Men movie execs were worried that he would lose weight during the run of the show, so they sent a trainer "to help keep the pounds on and the jazz hands off." 

His thick-necked "trainer," StEve Lord came out asking, "Who are these people and why are they in my gym?"  Admonishing Jackman and warning him about the dangers of dancing he turned to leave, tossing an "I'll be back," over his shoulder, much to the audience's delight. 

But Jackman couldn't help himself.  Singing "I won't dance," his foot began to tap until he launched into a full-on Broadway number complete with Rockette kicks at the end.

He followed this with a heartfelt and beautiful rendition of "The Way You Look Tonight" for his wife, coming down into the audience to bring her to the front for a kiss.  Married for fifteen years, it was quite clear that he is besotted with her and she with him.

Joining him on stage for several numbers were Broadway veterans Merle Dandridge (Spamalot, Aida, Tarzan and Rent) and Angel Reda (Wicked, Chicago and Sweet Charity).  If you're going to have back-up singers Dandridge and Reda are the way to go.  Both singers were spectacular.

As they sang a duet for the audience, Jackman took the opportunity to slip into something more comfortable - one of the outfits from his hit Broadway show, The Boy from Oz, in which he played the flamboyantly brilliant Peter Allen.  Before our eyes, his whole persona shifted and he became Allen.

"I know what you're thinking," he said to the audience, dancing all the while to the rousing number, "I'm Going to Rio."  "Is he or isn't he?  It's true.  I'm Australian."  Maracas flew as Dandridge and Reda joined him on stage.  The number ended in a bold, white, freeze-frame spotlight as the audience erupted into wild applause.  But then trainer StEve Lord came back on stage and carried him offstage shaking his head at all the dancing.  Jackman waved sheepishly to the crowd as he exited.

Moments later he came back center stage, dressed again in dress shirt and slacks, to sing the Rogers and Hammerstein classic "Soliloquy" from Carousel, imbuing the song with layered tones of earnest longing and hope for his future son…or daughter.  He first performed this at Carnegie Hall and it has always been a favorite of his.

The audience was also treated to a wonderful snippet from the first role he ever got – as "Salesman #8" in a high school production of The Music Man.   He was so eager to get the part that he learned all eight salesmen's parts - and that was what we heard him do – all eight parts.  Conductor Vaccariello had the drummer speed up the tempo in the middle of the song and Jackman kept up the pace to the end.

Perhaps the most moving part of the evening was when he talked about making the movie Australia with Nicole Kidman (who was in the audience on Tuesday night).  He said that it was while they were in the Outback that he got a visceral sense that we don't own the land.  Beautiful scenes of Australia appeared on the screen behind him as he sang Israel "IZ" Ka'ano'iKamakawiwo'ole's version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." 

Then, from out in the audience came the haunting Aboriginal sounds of two men playing Didjerdoo instruments.  As they made their way to the stage Jackman spoke of "The Apology," given by the Australian government to the indigenous people of Australia in 2008.  The significance of that apology birthed a movement called "Nomad Two Worlds" which Didgerdoo artist Nathan Mundraby is a part.  (His art is also featured in the lobby of the Curran Theater.)  Jackman and his wife have been huge supporters of the movement, resulting in Jackman's invitation to Nomad founder Russell James to collaborate directly with him on this portion of the show. Mundraby was teary-eyed as Jackman spoke of the work being done to heal the divide between the two worlds. (Another surprise friend and guest made an on-stage appearance but you'll have to see the show to find out who he is.)

It was in mid-March that San Franciscans had their first hint that a major celebrity was coming to town in the form of a tweet from theater owner Carol Shorenstein Hayes. "I'm so excited...and I just can't hide it…SHN is about to announce the most exciting SEXY singer/dancer EVER at the Curran…can you guess?" 

A few days letter the big announcement was made to the twitteratti, "Hugh Jackman May 3-15 at my Curran Theatre. brand new show! He's putting it together now!"

In fact, Hugh Jackman did put together quite a show.  It is a not-to-be-missed experience that will have you laughing, cheering and longing for the Outback, even if you've never been.  Creative Producer Warren Carlyle did an excellent job of weaving all the strands of Jackman's long and varied career into an absolutely entertaining production.  Hugh Jackman In Performance will dazzle you and he's right here in San Francisco at the Curran Theater, now through May 15.  Get your tickets now before he goes back down under.

 

Hugh Jackman – In Performance

May 3-15

San Francisco's Curran Theater

www.shnsf.com

Photo courtesy of James Houston/Corbis Online

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