What's It All About? Bacharach Reimagined

conceived by Kyle Riabko and David Lane Seltzer

seen at the Menier Chocolate Factory on 3 July 2015

Kyle Riabko and six other young musicians pay tribute to the songs of Burt Bacharach in a 90-minute revue-style program featuring 33 of the composer's songs. Both Bacharach and his principal lyricist Hal David approved of the enterprise, which was first seen in New York in December 2013. (Riabko and two others of the cast are from the original production.)

The theatre has been transformed once again - every production seems to inspire a new configuration of the space. This time, seats are around three sides of the acting area but the 70s bric-a-brac on stage seeps into the seating area, with various throws and cushions on the benches, and some easy chiais and sofas available in the front rows. Musical instruments and other paraphernalia are suspended from the ceiling, and concealed within all this is some serious electronic kit, a drum set and a piano on wheels.

The young musicians - Kyle Riabko is 28 and the youngest is 19 - perform the songs with immense confidence and obvious enjoyment; there is no condescension in their approach. Many familiar hits are given a new rendition, wisely with no attempt to imitate any of the original singers. Some cadences familiar to audiences who grew up with the original hits will be missed, but the great strength of this show is that one can listen more closely to the lyrics, and appreciate what a new arrangement can do to highlight certain themes and connections between the songs. Some numbers are given really loud treatment, real jamming sessions of electronic music, but others are presented softly, with close harmonies and simple melodies picked out on guitar or piano. 

The singers move together well, now one, now another taking the lead, all of them managing the movement of the instruments across the stage, and there is an inspired use of a double revolve towards the end.

The evening is a great reminder of the superb Bacharach catalogue, and it is a great pleasure to see younger musicians taking on these songs with such panache.