Lea Salonga - Stage, Screen & Everything in Between
30 June 2024
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Scotland
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A spectacular set from a sparkling stage and screen legend.
Broadway, West End and Disney Legend Lea Salonga is best known for her Tony Award winning role as the original Miss Saigon and as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin and Mulan in the hit Disney films. With a myriad of stage and screen credits spanning a 47 year career, Salonga has most recently starred in Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends in London's West End. Embarking on her new UK concert tour 'Stage, Screen & Everything in Between' Salonga sets out to share her favourite songs from her entire career with UK audiences, together with a little bit of anything else that may take her fancy.
I went along to the only Scottish date of the 2024 UK Tour at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre. This is what happened next:
The massive stage at the gorgeous Festival Theatre in Edinburgh is the largest performance area in Scotland. On Sunday night it was dressed simply with a draped curtain and an arc of stage lights as the backdrop to a piano, microphones and musical instruments eagerly waiting to be picked up and played. Just after 7.30pm, the band took the stage to voracious applause and kicked off the festivities with a lively orchestral overture of some of Lea's best known songs.
Lea herself soon joined the band and was met with a thunderous reception. She wasted no time in launching straight into 'Pure Imagination' from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and then onto the beautiful 'A Million Dreams' from The Greatest Showman. After a lively 'A Cockeyed Optimist' from South Pacific, Lea took a moment to greet her adoring fans and learnt a traditional Scottish welcome: "Y'alright hen?!" She introduced us individually to her brilliant six-piece live band and two superb backing vocalists, and there was an extra enthusiastic cheer for the Musical Director joining her on piano for the evening, her little brother, Gerard Salonga.
Next Lea treated us to a slowed-down, somehow even more devastating version of - in my opinion - one of the best songs from recent Musical Theatre 'She Used to be Mine' from Waitress. While the audience were still wiping tears from their cheeks, she then launched into a funky, and wholly unexpected version of the Bee Gees 'Stayin' Alive' from Saturday Night Fever.
Lea entertains the audience between songs with personal and professional stories from her career. These interludes are never long, but they illustrate her love for her family and for her profession, and if at all possible, they warm the audience to her even further. She is funny and kind, and every conversation sets up the next section of the show and gives us a little more detail as to why she chose a particular song or why it's has special meaning for her.
On to one of my favourites sections of the entire show: 'Movie Moments.' When the first few beats of Bryan Adams unmistakable '(Everything I Do) I Do it for You' from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves filled the theatre, the audience gasped as one in delight. Similarly, those of us old enough to remember 'Arthur's theme' from the early 1980's nodded along with the opening lyrics "When you get caught between the moon and New York City." Perhaps the loudest gasp of the night came with the first haunting notes of the signature song from Titanic 'My Heart Will Go On.' Audience members joyfully joined in with outstretched arms a-la Leo and Kate, and I'm sorry to say Celine Dion, but Lea Salonga's version blew yours right out of the water. This gloriously nostalgic film section ended with an uplifting, air punching version of Simple Minds iconic 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' from 80's hit The Breakfast Club. Pure joy.
To end the first act Lea returned to her most famous role of Kim in Miss Saigon and brought the house down with stunning versions of 'The Movie in My Mind' and a devastating 'Last night of the World' which gained her her first standing ovation of the evening. These songs also provided opportunities for backing singers Adam Filipe and Sarah Galbraith to step forward and duet with Lea, both of whom matched and complimented Lea's tone and energy perfectly. A clearly emotional Salonga then closed Act I with a reference to her recent turn in Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends with a song that she didn't get to sing in show: Bobby's birthday song 'Being Alive' from Company.
After a short interval for drinks, snacks and buying merch, Lea returned to the stage with a change of outfit but to the same vigorous reception from the crowd. She continued the nod to Sondheim with an urgent, jazzy rendition of 'Something's Coming' from West Side Story, followed by Mrs Lovett's very difficult, 'By the Sea' from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Next came an exuberant nod to all the Disney Princess that Salonga's hasn't played, from Ariel's 'Part of Your World' from The Little Mermaid, to Cinderella's iconic Disney ballad 'A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes', Pocahontas' rousing 'Colors of the Wind' and ending on Queen Elsa's showstopper 'Let it Go' from Frozen.
It's in this section that the stage lighting started to make an impact with the base colours changing to suit each different film, and the spotlights racing and expanding to build the drama. Where the stage had looked like a lovely club lounge up until now, it transforms into something more theatrical, somehow larger and fittingly spectacular.
Salonga's voice is breathtaking no matter which song she sings and the audience, although enthusiastic and appreciative, are perfectly behaved and respectful. This is evidenced during a tear-jerking rendition of Rodgers and Hammerstein's stunning Edelweiss from The Sound a Music: you could hear a pin drop during the musical interludes. Adele's Grammy Award winning Skyfall from the James Bond film of the same name was presented simply with Lea singing against the backdrop of a sole guitar. Without the usual orchestrations of this piece, Skyfall - whilst still powerfully dramatic - became a breathtaking, stripped-back anthem.
Moving towards the end of the show, Lea finally returned to her own historic Disney roles with a beautiful, sentimental performance of Reflections from Pocahontas, and the soaring 'A Whole New World' from Aladdin. Her haunting 'On My Own' from Les Mis garnered yet another, fully deserved standing ovation, and when everyone was seated and composed once again, Lea finished her set with what she referred to as her favourite "I want" song from all of musical theatre; the monumental 'Rose's Turn' from Gypsy.
Of course the audience wouldn't let the evening end there and Miss Salonga returned for not one but two superb encores. First she dueted with Adam Filipe on the celebrated, fast-paced and exuberant Moulin Rouge mash-up 'The Elephant Love Medley.' Then, after one final quick dash off stage to change into a pair of dazzling ruby slippers, Salonga took a seat centre stage and - in honour of the final weekend of Pride - to absolutely no-one's surprise who had been paying attention to the recent footwear switch-up, laid down the most stunning, pitch perfect version of 'Over the Rainbow' from The Wizard of Oz.
Wow. What a perfect night! A superb array of musical theatre and film greats, sung with ease and presented beautifully. With rousing accompaniment from the excellent musicians and backing vocalists, flawless sound, light and stage design, 'Lea Salonga - Stage, Screen & Everything in Between' is a spectacular set from a sparkling stage and screen legend.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎵 Find the full set list and band member details below
Lea Salonga - Stage, Screen & Everything in Between Set List: Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 30 June 2024
I have listed this from memory and from a few scribbles in a notebook in the dark, so please do let me know if I've made any errors or missed any songs.
ACT I
Band: Lea Salonga Overture
Pure Imagination (Charlie & the Chocolate Factory)
A Million Dreams (The Greatest Showman)
A Cockeyed Optimist (South Pacific)
She Used to be Mine (Waitress)
Stayin' Alive (Saturday Night Fever)
Movie Moments medley:
(Everything I Do) I Do it for You (from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves)
Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can do) (from Arthur)
My Heart Will Go On (from Titanic)
Don't You (Forget About Me) (from The Breakfast Club)
The Movie in My Mind (Miss Saigon)
Last night of the World (Miss Saigon)
Being Alive (Company)
-INTERVAL-
ACT II
Something's Coming (West Side Story)
By the Sea (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street)
Disney Princess sequence:
Ariel: Part of Your World (The Little Mermaid)
Cinderella: A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Cinderella)
Pocahontas: Colors of the Wind (Pocahontas)
Queen Elsa: Let it Go (Frozen)
Edelweiss (The Sound of Music)
Skyfall (James Bond: Skyfall)
Disney Legend roles:
Reflections (Mulan)
A Whole New World (Aladdin)
On My Own (Les Miserables)
Rose's Turn (Gypsy)
ENCORE 1: Elephant Love Medley (Moulin Rouge) - with Adam Filipe
ENCORE 2: Over the Rainbow (The WIzard of Oz)
Lea Salonga - Stage, Screen & Everything in Between: Band
Musical Director Gerard Salonga
Keys Martin Riley and Graeme Taylor
Guitar Chris Allard
Bass Guitar Hugh Richardson
Drums Elliott Henshaw
Backing vocalists Adam Filipe and Sarah Galbraith
Lea Salonga: Stage, Screen and Everything in Between review, UK Tour, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Capital Theatres, June 2024.
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🎟️ Disclosure: I was invited to review this show and received a complimentary ticket in exchange. Neither the venue nor show has a say in what I write. I'm completely independent and invites have no impact on my analysis or star ratings.
