The latest in the series of Westway Sessions brings Cassidy Janson back to the West End stage for one night only. It’s a familiar set list if you’ve seen her perform solo before, but she has enthusiasm and professionalism, even with a sinus infection and fortified by Sudafed.
Janson came to prominence playing the lead in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and so her set includes several numbers from that artist, including “I Feel The Earth Move” and, as an encore, “Natural Born Woman”.
With a band who are obviously tight-knit and fiercely talented in their own right (Adam Dennis is musical director), this set moves quickly and covers a variety of milestones in the Janson repertoire.
&Juliet, Wicked, and Chess are represented by one song each. “That’s The Way It Is”, “I’m Not That Girl” and “Nobody’s Side” are all songs that address considerable character development for Anne, Elphaba and Florence, emotionally engaging and technically beautiful.
Elsewhere, Janson heads to Celine Dion’s catalogue for a Beatles cover (“Here, There, and Everywhere”) and a showstopper with a Strictly Come Dancing story ( “It’s All Coming Back To Me”). Her fun, down to earth style shows itself in “When A Woman” (from the film Fisherman’s Friends).
Noting her collaboration with Beverley Knight and Amber Riley on the album Leading Ladies with “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” (another Carole King song), plus delivering stunning renditions of Oleta Adams’s “Get Here” and James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain”, this is a set list with something for everyone.
Cassidy Janson is musical theatre royalty and can still send herself up – a lovely combination which make her shows an absolute pleasure.
I’m giving it four stars.
The Westway Sessions continue with shows by Kerry Ellis and Aimee Atkinson: details here.