When McLaren meets Groban
Stage YOU RAISE ME UP: A JOSH GROBAN TRIBUTE RHUMBELOW THEATRE
VERY popular in his hometown, East London, Rory McLaren is a versatile vocalist and accomplished pianist who first performed in Durban in 2008.
Last here in November with his Greatest Hits show, featuring the music of Queen, Abba, Bee Gees and others, he was in Durban again last weekend with his salute to Josh Groban, an update of a cabaret he first staged locally seven years ago.
This weekend he will perform the same show at the Pietermaritzburg branch of the Rhumbelow, in the Allan Wilson shellhole, at 2pm and 6.30pm on Sunday.
Material associated with 34-year-old Groban, who has released four multi-platinumcertified albums, is well suited to McLaren’s fine voice.
Alternating between performing in front of a mic stand and seated at a black baby grand, he provides a pleasant, low-fuss outpouring of many of the ballads and operatic songs that have seen Groban sell 25 million albums.
McLaren delivers these songs with flamboyant piano flourishes and a strong voice, but his audience rapport is sometimes a little lacking.
He occasionally comes across as uncomfortable and awkward, offering patter that is minimal and might benefit from more facts and ancedotes associated with Groban.
Interesting snippets about the Los Angeles native are many, including the fact that Groban first attracted interest when he was asked by David Foster to replace an ill Andrea Bocelli to rehearse a duet, The Prayer, with Celine Dion at the rehearsal for the 1998 Grammy Awards.
Wikipedia points out that Groban then received the nod from Rosie O’Donnell to appear on her talk show – and his fame began to escalate after being cast on the popular television series, Ally McBeal.
The hit that first made Groban a star was the heartfelt and soaring To Where You Are, and McLaren does it justice early in this show’s first half, leaving Groban’s biggest success, You Raise Me Up, for a well-received encore.
Having tickled the ivories and been singing since the age of 5, McLaren seems more relaxed in front of the piano.
At 16, he received a distinction from the Royal School of Music, and two years later had written a song, titled Treasure Your Love, which went on to become a No 1 hit in the Eastern Cape for six consecutive weeks.
Elegantly lit by Derek Pearce at the Umbilo branch of the Rhumbelow, You Raise Me Up: A Josh Groban Tribute features a good variety of cover songs also associated with Groban.
Among them are a deft arrangement of Charlie Chaplin’s Smile, fine renditions of Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water and Don McLean’s Vincent, as well as Over the Rainbow and a fussy arrangement of O Holy Night.
Also here are Groban’s Remember When It Rained, You’re Still You, Let It Fall from Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam show (performed by McLaren as a fine piano instrumental) and a rendition of The Prayer that has him singing male and female parts. Rory McLaren’s Josh Groban tribute show will be staged at the Rhumbelow Theatre at the Allan Wilson shellhole, Pietermaritzburg, at 2pm and 6.30pm on Sunday. Tickets cost R120 (R100 concessions). Phone 082 499 8636 to book.