Sequins and Shpiel: Rachael Sage

FRINGE REVIEW

Sequins and Shpiel: an evening with New York's Rachael Sage

CITY EDINBURGH 1a Market Street Venue 90

August 7th -11th 20:00 £8.00

Reviewed by David Kerr

What's going on, here? I wondered as the lights went down and a young man took the stage to sing a haunting unaccompanied song. I thought I was coming to see Rachael Sage. Then it clicked, this was the warm-up man. Dismiss any ideas you might have of somebody who isn't that great filling in until the main act comes on stage. Seth Glier is an exceptionally talented 20-year-old pianist and singer-songwriter with a huge vocal range that could be a cross between Brian Kennedy and Billy Joel. Whether singing a Capella or accompanying himself on a keyboard he brought passion and fervour to his music. Songs about growing up in a large house surrounded by love play alongside a song on the pitfalls of fame. Seth Glier is going to go far.

After this impressive introduction I wondered how the main act would top that. Rachael Cave moved through the audience distributing feather boas, shawls and scarves among us. This glamorous chanteuse sparkled as she took to the stage in a long blue sequinned dress to join a cellist and a drummer who had already begun to get the audience in a receptive mood. What a singer! Sweet melodies followed by yearning songs of pain and loss. I was particularly impressed by her version of the Fame song, I Want to Live Forever.

That was the sequins sorted out but we got plenty of entertaining shpiel in between the songs. Rachael is comfortable with her New York Yiddish background. She has some cracking stories to tell in a variety of accents. Audience participation is a great part of her act. At one point, kazoos were given out to allow everyone to join in the chorus of one of her songs. This interaction means that no two shows are exactly the same.

Find out more about Rachael Sage on www.rachaelsage.com or www.myspace.com/rachaelsage

and Seth Glier on www.mpressrecords.com