The entire package looked and sounded as professional as a concert performed by the man himself
Presented by Ben Francis Entertainment
Reviewed 21 November 2024
South Australia is very lucky to have a plethora of young and upcoming performers making it up the ever-growing entertainment ladder. One such shooting star of a talent is Ben Francis. Only in his young twenties, Francis has already started to make a name for himself by forming, with some ex-high school friends, the sensational 60/70s music tribute group The 60 Four. Earlier this year he established yet another enterprise, Ben Francis Entertainment. If its first product, Benny And The Jets – the story of Elton John, is any indication of success, then Ben Francis Entertainment will be thriving for many, many years to come.
On Thursday night, a packed Shedley Theatre witnessed a one night only preview of the show that Francis is hoping to tour next year. After witnessing it, I hope he does too. This tribute to a master of music is sublime, stunning, glitzy and brilliant in all aspects of production and talent.
Sound by Craig Williams and lighting by Ethan Hurn (both from Mosaic AV) and visual effects by Ray Cullen all add well to the overall professional feel of a top-class show. Choreography by Carla Papa is wonderfully appropriate and performed well by Francis and his fantastic backup singers, Tia Rodger, Lily Horton-Stewart and Emma Pool. These ladies also aid Francis with his well-executed costume changes and provide little cameo characterisations. The absolutely great five piece band is musically directed by Marco Callisto, who also wrote the band arrangements and played keyboard, and features Jake Dawson (Guitar), Jayden Dawson (Bass), Will Burton (Sax) and James Nisbet on drums.
And now for the Producer/Director/Writer/Vocal Arranger and, most importantly, STAR of the show, Ben Francis. Strutting his best Elton strut, Francis impressed from the start (and he hadn’t even sung or played yet). Adorned with a familiar boater and glasses and wearing a well fitting black/white jacket with black chinos turned up at the ankles and the glitziest sneakers this side of Elton and resembling not only a young Elton but also Taron Egerton (who played Elton in the biopic Rocket Man), Francis hooked the audience with Benny And The Jets and didn’t let us off that hook until the encore of Rocket Man and I’m Still Standing. It needs to be said here that the entire packed Shedley Theatre audience were still standing after this for an extremely well-deserved standing ovation.
Francis made sure that the entire package looked and sounded as professional as a concert performed by the man himself. But this was not an imitation by any means though. Francis’ own love and admiration for the great artist shone through the whole time. He wisely narrated the facts and figures of Elton John’s life as himself. All of this helped showcase Francis himself and not just the musical icon that he was celebrating. All the songs included (the hits and some of Elton’s earlier works) were lovingly and faithfully treated by Francis, his backup singers and the band.
Just a side note: during the curtain call, Francis did something that I haven’t seen before with an artist: he brought the band and singers down to stand with him for the bows. What a very generous young man!
As previously stated, this was a preview of what will hopefully be a tour next year. Keep an eye out for it, don’t let the sun go down on you, grab the rocket, man and travel the yellow brick road. It will be well, well worth it!!
Reviewed by Brian Godfrey
Photo credit: Daniel Marks
Season Ended – One Night Only
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