Rufus Wainwright
London Old Vic
29th July, 2007

In the second row sits Neil Tennant, leading the masculine branch of the Wainwright adoration society, and as anyone who has followed Rufus’ career and warmed to his fifth album, Release The Stars, will testify – a la Elton – he’s the leading singer/ songwriter/vocalist of the last 10 years. With a well-drilled multiinstrumentalist band, the first part of the show sees Wainwright deliver the new album with panache. Vocally, he gives everything, and he dresses to match, wearing fetching lederhosen for the second half. As well as Judy Garland numbers, Wainwright delivers classic showstoppers like The Art Teacher, Beautiful Child and Pretty Things, and an old Irish folk tune sans microphone. Two hours fly by and three songs into the encore he stops the show dead, dressed as July Garland. With his band dancing, he delivers a Get Happy that for sheer bravado and balls will not be bettered.