Betty Buckley Performs One Night Only At UNC-G Campus (Review Inside!)

I'm going!

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I want to go!

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Entralling. Powerful. Magnificent.

I expected the night to be nearly all showtunes and to include the highlights of her career - "Memory," "Rose's Turn," "With One Look," etc. However, I was wrong. And I don't give a damn.

Not in the least bit disappointing and more moved than I thought I would be, Buckley performed an exhilirating selection of songs. Each one beautifully interpreted. She had a hand towel on stage to dry her tears after crying after nearly almost every number.

One of the most moving moments of the night was "Memory." She said she was going to close the evening with a different song, however after she sang it, all the lights went out, the pianist, celloist, and drummer turned off their lights, and then the famous chords began to play as dim mistic lights barely lit the stage. The spotlights came back on.

Now, I had a feeling I wouldn't be leaving the theatre that night without hearing her belt that song. What happened again was not what I expected. A more connected and personal interpretation of the song had me crying. Instead of "listen to me belt this song I made famous" it was a mellowed cry for love.

Other highlights included "A Coat of Paint," "Fire & Rain," "Hallejuhah," "With One Look," "The Water Is Wide," "Come Rain Or Come Shine," "On The Street Where You Live/I Could Have Danced All Night."

She sang a few songs from a contemporary composer she kept cheering: Mary Chaplin Carprenter (sp?).

What was QUITE disappointing was the number of audience members. Only a portion of the balcony and half the auditorium were filled. WHAT?! This is BETTY BUCKLEY. How is it that I paid only $9 to see a legendary Broadway actress provide such a charming evening to only a few hundred people? Granted, the promotion for the concert was awful. I found out about it from a friend THE DAY BEFORE! My God!!! If a Tony winner were in your neighborhood, especially in a large city with a huge theatre population of aspiring singers and actors, you'd think it'd be SOLD OUT!!

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