Natalie Douglas
Hello Dolly: The Music of Dolly Parton
The Crazy Coqs, London, U.K., November 4, 2014
Reviewed by Mychelle Colleary for Cabaret Scenes
In a gravity-defying strapless, gold lamé gown, Natalie Douglas paid tribute to her longtime idol Dolly Parton in more ways than one! The show is a collection of songs associated with Dolly Parton, some of them written by Parton, some very well known and others less so. Repertoire included: “I Will Always Love You,” “Coat of Many Colors,” “Single Women” and “Jolene.”
In great voice, consistent throughout was Douglas’s masterful musical delivery.
It is worth mentioning (as Douglas did) that she was performing with close friends Mark Hartman (piano, backup vocals) and Shanna Sharp (guitar, backup vocals). Solid musical support could have been provided to any performer by these skilled musicians, but that extra bit of familiarity made for musical magic.
Hartman’s arrangements fleshed out this collection of somewhat simply-structured songs, perfectly accentuating Douglas’s vocal sweet spots, providing ample space and poignant silence for touching moments of pathos.
The concrete structure of perfectly blended harmonies provided yet another exciting landscape for Douglas to explore.
Hello Dolly: The Music of Dolly Parton is a relatively new show for Douglas, this debut in London is only the second time this piece had ever been performed. Some references that work in New York culturally just don’t resonate in London. As such, it was thrilling to see a consummate performer work through and adjust patter for an entirely—literally foreign—audience.
The show includes a good mix of little-known facts about Dolly Parton as well as anecdotes about Douglas’s own personal experiences, illustrating the connection and affection she feels for her subject.
It is an audience-friendly show, and possibly one of Douglas’s finest. This is cabaret at its best: a balance of good music and great storytelling. Definitely worth catching if you can. Don’t think twice!
