Presented by Roulette Shows
Reviewed 16 March 2021
It’s not every day you get to witness a performance so magical, so flawless, so spell-binding, that it leaves you lost for words. Casey Donovan’s performance at the Regal Theatre was exactly this. It takes a lot to be able to stand in front of an audience with only your guitar, or accompanist, and make the audience forget it’s just you up there on stage. Casey’s infectious personality, warm smile, and knockout voice draws you in as she weaves her magic.
Bluesday At The Regal was a two-hour journey through Casey’s life, featuring arrangements of songs that Casey has featured on her Tuesday night Facebook live concerts, Bluesday Tuesdays.
Casey Donovan sprang into our lives in 2004 when she was crowned the winner of Australian Idol. It is now 17 years later, and Casey has forged her own unique path through the entertainment and music industry.
When watching Casey perform, music just oozes out of her; you cannot help but smile and share her love and joy for music. Her ability to tell stories through her singing really is like no other. Each piece performed came from the heart. Some personal favourites included her heart-wrenching version of Hallelujah, She Used To Be Mine (from the musical Waitress), and her original single from Australian Idol, Listen To Your Heart. Casey preceded this song with a very open and honest story about how she struggled performing this number for many years, but after a long hiatus from the song, she has come back and found a new connection to the lyric and a new direction for the meaning behind the song.
Casey was joined by accompanist Brenton Foster. Brenton’s piano accompaniment perfectly matched Casey’s power-house vocals, echoing her phrasing as if they were one with unmistakable musicality.
Once again, this was another brilliant evening presented by Kathryn McGowan & Markus Hamence from Roulette Shows.
Sadly, this was a one-night-only appearance from Casey. If you get the chance to see her live whenever she’s in town, be sure to grab a ticket. I promise you; you won’t be disappointed.
Reviewed by: Ben Stefanoff
Twitter: @thearteislife
Rating out of 5: 5
Season Ended
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