Review: AN EVENING WITH JASON ROBERT BROWN, Theatre Royal Haymarket

Jason Robert Brown's annual pilgrimage to the UK culminated this year in an intimate concert at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, launching the Sunday Encounters at the Haymarket residencies. Known for his penchant for writing a rather lengthy tune, Brown kept this show to a timely 130 minutes...which left his audience desperate for more.

Brown is no stranger to a West End concert, but for this long-time supporter, it was the first time being in the actual presence of his genius - and he proved himself to be the perfect host.

The greatest surprise was the sheer breadth of the track list that Brown selected to perform. It was like a whistle-stop tour of his back catalogue, with a combination of songs from both his staged musicals and his albums.

Parade, Bridges of Madison County and Urban Cowboy all featured, with notably rousing applause for "I'm a Part of That" from The Last Five Years (courtesy of Carrie Hope Fletcher). "Melinda", from album How we React and How We Recover, was a hip-swinging crowd-pleaser with a salsa feel, showcasing Brown's skill for incorporating any genre into his orchestrations whilst still retaining his signature sound.

Speaking of guest stars, Brown was reunited with Rachel Tucker (having collaborated on similar concerts previously), as well as first-time collaborations with Fletcher and Tyrone Huntley, who knocked "King of The World" from Songs for a New World out of the park. All three guest performers have phenomenal talent, and the songs selected for them were perfectly suited to their skills, highlighted further by the wonderfully energetic house band.

Brown has a witty charm which is impossible to resist, with a frank and engaging style that makes the banter between song transitions (which in less capable hands can be awkward) feel entirely natural. However, the most exhilarating part of witnessing a Jason Robert Brown live show is watching his hands master those signature piano trills with a speed and deftness that is transfixing. That's worth the ticket price alone.

Sunday Encounters at the Haymarket is running until 23 June

Read our interview with Jason Robert Brown

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