Shirley Jones is a legend, there’s no doubt about that! She’s already had a career most singers and actors would kill for. And now, at the ripe young age of 75, she’s making her West End debut along with her son, Patrick Cassidy.

After a rather lengthy intro wherein we saw film clips from her career, Ms. Jones appeared on stage looking as radiant and gorgeous as ever. She treated us to wonderful anecdotes about her life and career and sang songs, mostly from musicals in which she had starred. As she put it, she may not be singing them as well as she once did, but she’s having a blast—and really, isn’t that what it’s about, when you’ve had the career she’s had? For me, her best number was “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man,” which she sang truthfully and beautifully. Her Oklahoma! medley was great, and brought wonderful memories flooding back, not just because I’m an Okie myself.

Patrick started off his set with a comic version of “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” in which he was continually interrupted by more famous family members (via a recording), a truthful account of his childhood. I loved his “Danny Boy,” wonderfully moving for its unforced simplicity.

They were accompanied by a terrific band: Ron Abel (piano), Toby Cruse (synthesiser), Harold Fisher (drums) and Dave Olney (bass).

Harold Sanditen
Cabaret Scenes
March 23, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org