It was a joy to be involved in a show organised by impressionist, actor and poet Alistair McGowan this summer. Its purpose was to raise funds in support of Mortimer Forest, the thousand hectare forest which straddles the Shropshire and Herefordshire border.
Initially Alistair had asked if I’d do a 10-minute set of songs at the piano (ie playing and singing), but I ended up being rather busier than that, and happily so!
During the first half, I sang and played Love is here to stay, and Isn’t it a pity? by the Gershwin brothers, and There’ll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover. Moving over the Channel (as it were..) in the second half, I sang and played What are you doing the rest of your life? and Ne me Quitte Pas.
Really enjoyed accompanying superb singer/actress Charlotte Page in Noel Coward’s Mad about the Boy, and Stately as a Galleon, the song which Joyce Grenfell used to perform so memorably. Charlotte and I combined forces to sing the duet from Chess, I Know Him So Well (with me at the piano), and in a fabulous finale, Charlotte sang Sondheim’s moving and poignant Losing my Mind, which I accompanied.
Alistair hosted the evening, introducing the various performers as well as delighting the capacity audience with some brilliant impressions. What a night!
