Fringe 2023 The WHitney Houston Story theSpaceUK 17th August Review
The Whitney Houston Story, at theSpaceUK @ Symposium Hall is a new show to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe from Night Owl Productions, and as always from Night Owl this is a tribute to the music of an artist/band and not any attempt to be a copy-cat tribute show. As Cleopatra Madonna Higgins clearly states, she never attempt to impersonate any performer when doing a show like this, or singing anyone else’s songs. Cleopatra does these songs in her own very distinctive vocal and performance style and has the ability to make it sound like these songs (with special arrangements) were written only for her to perform.
Whitney Houston had a voice that spanned around three octaves, but had amazing control over how she used that voice and few singers of her generation could come anywhere near her ability to cover the range of songs that she made famous hit after hit. Most singers that try to copy Whitney Houston vocally fail at the first few bars of any song. Cleopatra Higgins is one of the few singers that I would go to a show like this to hear Whitney classics being covered because I know they will be performed in her own unique style with her own instinctive use of rhythm, timing and phrasing. Cleopatra Higgins is a very, very good live performer and does not need to copy or try to imitate anyone.
As always, the 50 minute time slot of a Fringe show means that you have to be very selective with your set list and while you have to make sure that certain songs that the audience expect to be there are there, you also know that the chances are that you are going to be missing someone’s favourite song out. The set list for this show though should appeal to a wide range of Whitney Houston fans.
Whatever the song, whether it be an upbeat dance classic that allows Cleopatra to get pretty much everyone in this audience out of their seats and joining her moves, or slower tempo numbers, the range and style of song that Cleopatra seems to be able to perform instinctively is impressive and her connection with her audience is an immediate one that never falters all through this show.
I have no plans to give away Cleopatra’s set list in this review as there are a few surprises in here too, but it will be no surprise and no give-away to say that there is here a selection of music from “The Bodyguard” and of course “I Will Always Love You”. People often seem to be split in opinion on this song with some preferring the simplicity of the original as written and performed by Dolly Parton, or the Whitney Houston global hit arranged for her own very distinctive vocal style. Wisely, Cleopatra Higgins makes no attempt to do a “Whitney” cover of this song but instead gives a powerful and emotional arrangement of this song that lets us all see what a unique vocalist she is in her own right. For me, this version was a little bit between the two versions and this song always suits (in my opinion) a more simplified arrangement no matter who is singing it.
As always, the Night Owl Band kept everything clean, sharp and tight leaving Cleopatra the luxury of knowing that whatever she was doing out in front as a performer, the band were right there with her all the time.
If you want to see and hear more of Cleopatra Higgins do not miss her performance in another Night Owl Production this Fringe – The Aretha Franklin Story.
Review by Tom King ©2023
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
Whitney Houston had a voice that spanned around three octaves, but had amazing control over how she used that voice and few singers of her generation could come anywhere near her ability to cover the range of songs that she made famous hit after hit. Most singers that try to copy Whitney Houston vocally fail at the first few bars of any song. Cleopatra Higgins is one of the few singers that I would go to a show like this to hear Whitney classics being covered because I know they will be performed in her own unique style with her own instinctive use of rhythm, timing and phrasing. Cleopatra Higgins is a very, very good live performer and does not need to copy or try to imitate anyone.
As always, the 50 minute time slot of a Fringe show means that you have to be very selective with your set list and while you have to make sure that certain songs that the audience expect to be there are there, you also know that the chances are that you are going to be missing someone’s favourite song out. The set list for this show though should appeal to a wide range of Whitney Houston fans.
Whatever the song, whether it be an upbeat dance classic that allows Cleopatra to get pretty much everyone in this audience out of their seats and joining her moves, or slower tempo numbers, the range and style of song that Cleopatra seems to be able to perform instinctively is impressive and her connection with her audience is an immediate one that never falters all through this show.
I have no plans to give away Cleopatra’s set list in this review as there are a few surprises in here too, but it will be no surprise and no give-away to say that there is here a selection of music from “The Bodyguard” and of course “I Will Always Love You”. People often seem to be split in opinion on this song with some preferring the simplicity of the original as written and performed by Dolly Parton, or the Whitney Houston global hit arranged for her own very distinctive vocal style. Wisely, Cleopatra Higgins makes no attempt to do a “Whitney” cover of this song but instead gives a powerful and emotional arrangement of this song that lets us all see what a unique vocalist she is in her own right. For me, this version was a little bit between the two versions and this song always suits (in my opinion) a more simplified arrangement no matter who is singing it.
As always, the Night Owl Band kept everything clean, sharp and tight leaving Cleopatra the luxury of knowing that whatever she was doing out in front as a performer, the band were right there with her all the time.
If you want to see and hear more of Cleopatra Higgins do not miss her performance in another Night Owl Production this Fringe – The Aretha Franklin Story.
Review by Tom King ©2023
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com