Newton-John abandons balladeer role
Entertainer shows professionalism
Singer Olivia Newton-John undoubtedly ranks as one of the most professional performers on the concert trail today.
After some success in Hollywood and with her top-selling single “Physical.” which was banned by some radio stations for its suggestive content and others for its artistic ineptness, Miss Newton-John has eagerly cast away her quiet country balladeer days.
Now she sells herself to audiences like a striptease dancer with Hollywood in her eyes.
Her screen experience at times played a larger role than her music in her show before a meager crowd of about 6,000 at the Myriad Wednesday night. She danced, shook and teased her way through an hour and a half set.
From the moment she slipped through a large screen behind the two-tiered stage, after a slide show capsulizing her life, she displayed a sense of professional naturalism exemplifying a decade of stage work.
Wearing a black jagged-hemmed mini-dress with rhinestone trim, Miss Newton-John opened with weak vocals but strong stage presence as she scooted across the stage and shook her hips with a cunningly innocent grin.
Introduction of the dramatis personae dispensed with, the singer turned actress-and-singer jumped right into the plot, displaying feelings seemingly written out for her by some choreographer: “Have You Never Been Mellow” - time to look pensive; “If Not For You” - look happy and in love; “Please Mr. Please” - now, cry from a breaking heart; “A Little More Love” - look sexually seductive.
Along with the predictable acting came an equally predictable plot. At the end of “Xanadu,” Miss Newton-John disappeared in an explosion and reappeared in a sparkling red mini-dress after a short musical bridge for, what else, “Magic.”
With the movies “Xanadu” and “Grease,” Miss Newton-John has proven herself an adept dancer, but even that was constricted on stage.
True dancing came with the final numbers, especially on “Make A Move On Me” in which she superbly showcased her skills in dance and song, and “You’re The One That I Want” in which she acted out the corresponding scene from the movie “Grease” with backing singer Dennis Tufano.
Her music was as dichotic on stage as her career. Vocals were much stronger on her old material like “Sam” and “Hopelessly Devoted,” weak on the new stuff like “A Little More Love” and “Magic.”
Hollywood disappeared for a moment at the end when she sat on the stage and sang “I Honestly Love You” with honest emotion, the only true intimate moment of the night.
Then the audience was treated to another slide show as she left the stage - closing credits if you will.
Horn player Tom Scott opened the concert and conducted Miss Newton-John’s mediocre band.
Recognized as a master among fellow musicians of all types, Scott’s professionalism has been featured on more albums than perhaps any studio musician, yet on stage he still showed a sense of freshness and ecstasy from playing his instruments.
By Eric Minton