An evocation of 1920's America through the songs of the Jazz Age. Bovill, suitably costumed, tells tales of the period, from post war euphoria to Wall Street Crash, interspersed with classic songs that have retained their power in the decades since. She's an accomplished storyteller with a knack for summarising and decent comic timing. She took us through the best of the age - Charlie Chaplin, Dorothy Parker and the dance crazes - and the worst - Al Capone, the Ku Klux Klan and mass poverty - partly through the eyes of the great observer of the time, F Scott Fitzgerald. Surprisingly informative given the limited time available.
She's a better singer, with a strong smoky alto voice that adapts well to different styles. There was a great rendition of Alcoholic Blues, and a surprising Ol' Man River, so often a preserve of the deepest bass voices. Her accompanists on piano and fiddle were competent, injected some occasional sparkle into the arrangements, but it's Covill's voice and phrasing that dominate, and rightly so.
The format works well, Covill has the stage presence to carry it off, and the result was very enjoyable in a low key kinda way. Worth a look.
Christine Bovill : Tonight You Belong to Me had it's final performance in the New Town Theatre on 25 August.
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