So, irony.

I have stuided and performed Shakespeare. I have sung the classics of the American songbook all over the US, many of the great roles of musical theatre. You see where I'm going there...

There is one thing I never thought I'd have cause to say in my performing life.

"In Europe, they love my Elvis."

They must, because this quick Elvis show I threw together a couple of weeks ago is... well, I'm doing it twice this coming cruise. It's nothing, just 5-6 songs in a set. I offered to do it when something was needed one night; now it's a staple. I think I should learn some new songs though.

Tonight we will do the classical show (during which I sing things like "Couplets de Escamillo" and "Largo Al Factorum" amongst others) and I will immediately leave to do my Elvis set in another location. It's particularly cool tonight because we have a British TV show onboard, "Live Your Dream" or something, and they've brought someone whose dream is to sing with a big band in a big venue. He'll sing a song as part of the set, and they'll be taping the whole thing for the episode. We gave the guy a sit-down "advice session" on camera yesterday, and he's quite nice. It'll be on ITV for those who know what that is. I do not.

Kara (the alto) does another section of this "dance party" night, and we're both wondering why on earth we're doing the same show twice in one cruise. Well, ours is not to wonder why...

My cabaret went over quite well. It's obscure baritone musical theatre stuff I like, so it's not a "big" show, but it worked for the people who came and was well publicized so they knew what they were getting into.

I'm still processing my reaction to STAR WARS - it felt like an ending to something more than just those films. The hit of music we're all familiar with as the end credits began to roll took me by surprise. Well, my reaction took me by surprise. I loved the film - vast improvements, less attempt to make it "light", and such... but at the end there was... well, my reaction... it was like someone in a little room somewhere closed the volume they'd been working on or reading for ages, wiped their hands, and said "well, that's done."

I heard a suggestion that it felt like childhood was now over.

Pshaw, I say pshaw! to that.

So in the course of one cruise, this cruise, things I will sing include:

I've Got A Little List
Largo Al Factorum
Crocodile Rock
Some Enchanted Evening
Master of the House
The Jet Song
Blue Suede Shoes
If I Can't Love Her
Big Girls Don't Cry
I Am The Very Model
You May Be Right
It's Now or Never
La Ci Darem La Mano
Jailhouse Rock... and many more.


I don't think there's much more I could ask in the way of variety.