Singer-songwriter Judith Owen has many things to recommend her.  She’s witty, quick to react to her audience, and has a lovely voice which works in a variety of vocal styles.  She writes truly heartfelt songs which she delivers with true passion.  Her music is something all cabaret artists should take a look at.  The sentiments are real and raw and speak to us.

Highlights include: “Trip and Tumble,” which she delivers with a fantastic level of desperation; “Pretty Girls,” where she sings of her youthful intimidation of outer beauty; “1709,” about meeting her husband at the Paramount Hotel in New York; and “That Scares Me,” sung by the marvelous Julia Fordham.

There are, however, a several drawbacks to the evening.  At two hours without intermission, the show is too long. It’s just plain self-indulgent, and taxes the audience’s attention, not to mention its bladders.  The show could certainly be tightened up by being less chatty and keeping her musicians on stage, rather than ushering them on and off, but Owen either needs to cut the show, or divide it into two halves.  She also has a tendency to sing with her eyes closed, which I always find alienating to an audience—but worse—she made a very strange choice in her delivery of “Cry Me a River” by singing the entire song either with her back to the audience and directly to her pianist, or facing forward with eyes closed.  It’s a beautiful arrangement, beautifully delivered, but she lost us.

Owen had terrific support on stage from Gabriella Swallow on cello, Charlie Wood on piano, Lawrence Cottle on bass guitar and Harry Shearer on double bass.

Owen is well worth seeing. But, unless she changes the format of her show, be warned about its length.

Future London dates at The Pheasantry, March 13 and 20.  CD Launch at show at Pizza Express Jazz Club on February 2.

Harold Sanditen
Cabaret Scenes
December 6, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org