Master storyteller’s Perth farewell is five star hit

An Evening with Donald Maxwell, the first show of the opera singer’s farewell tour.

If you were looking for some high-quality light entertainment, Perth Theatre supplied it in spades on Friday night.

It could easily have been titled “An Audience with Donald Maxwell” or “Donald Maxwell and friends” but whatever you call it, it was 100% entertainment from a master storyteller, a man whose affinity with the audience is instant and instinctive and whose warm and relaxed style leads to a delicious informality that makes you feel totally at home.

Donald’s also refreshingly self-deprecating and he was the fall-guy in many of his stories.

The “Donald whar’s yer troosers” escapade in Milngavie, being locked in an opera house toilet or his Old Man River experience where black was the name of the game.

Although opera was and still is his thing, operatic arias were a scarcity as he concentrated on the lighter side of his repertoire, all performed with typical Maxwell relish.

The Road To Mandalay, which could be his signature tune, George Donald’s wonderful spoof on Rowan Tree and Sir Joseph Porter’s patter song from HMS Pinafore to name but three.

I mentioned “and friends” and these played a huge part in the evening’s success – his guests Rowan Hellier, Linda Ormiston and pianist Scott Mitchell.

Rowan and her operatic contributions were magnificent, Scott was the masterful accompanist throughout but Linda’s appearance on stage added much to the fun of the evening, stealing the limelight (almost!) with her Fairies At the Bottom of My Garden song.