*****
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| Suzie Kennedy |
So much more than just a tribute act, Suzie Kennedy, when she assumes the persona of Marilyn Monroe, breathes a brilliantly vivacious life into one of the 20th century’s most inconic and enigmatic women. And in this year that marks the centenary of Monroe’s birth, Kennedy’s act takes on even greater significance.
From the moment she stepped into the spotlight in London’s intimate Crazy Coqs venue, Kennedy not only sang those numbers most associated with Monroe, she inhabited the star’s style – her script and audience interactions never letting the character drop, not for one second.
Kennedy’s hour-long setlist was a celebration of songs that defined not just Marilyn’s life but possibly and even more importantly, the impact that she made not only in her short lifetime but in the deacades since then. Of course the classics were there and as Kennedy wrapped her mellifluous vocals around I Wanna Be Loved By You, My Heart Belongs to Daddy and (later in the act) Happy Birthday, she became that immortalised Hollywood idol.
I Was Born This Way (in a neat touch, duetted with Lady GaGa tribute artiste, the excellent Lallie Burns) along with a soulful solo (by Kennedy) of I Am What I Am defined the day’s Pride credentials, as Kennedy spoke (as Marilyn) sincerely and above all knowledgably, about Monroe’s troubled life.
Kennedy brings a sincerity to her act that transcends her sublime performance skills, showing a profound respect to Monroe that only imbues her otherwise stellar performance. An eclectic choice of songs supports this deep understanding. The Leslie Gore classic You Don’t Own Me (delivered complete with its sublime key change) brings a charged profundity to the evening, while Charlene’s I’ve Never Been To Me comes across as though it could almost have been inspired by Marilyn Monroe.
In 1962 and aged just 36, Marilyn Monroe’s life was tragically cut short. The tragedy of her death is reflected in Kennedy's final act, where following Over The Rainbow a song steeped in heartbreak for so many reasons, she silently slipped away from the stage. Paul Rahme her talented musical director then took over the mic with a powerfully poignant delivery of Elton John’s song from 53(!) years ago, Goodbye Norma Jean.
Notwithstanding the sadness, Kennedy makes sure the show ends with a bang, returning from the wings, costumed-changed and shimmering in sparkles to deliver another of Monroe’s signature tunes, from the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend.
Sparkling entertainment – Suzie Kennedy defines the legacy of Marilyn Monroe.
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