Michael Griffiths - Cole

A confessional cabaret performed “in character”, “Cole” sees local musical theatre star, Michael Griffiths, assume the role of witty songwriter, Cole Porter, who penned some of the most enduring standards in the Great American Songbook – “Anything Goes”, “Under My Skin”, “Night & Day”, “Every Time We Say Goodbye”, “Let’s Misbehave” among them – whilst wrestling with various personal demons. Seated before a grand piano, Griffiths croons his way through Porter’s greatest hits and in between each song regales the audience with anecdotes from Cole’s often colourful life.

Griffiths’ winningly sassy charm lends Anna Goldsworthy’s scripted stage-patter the illusion of spontaneity. Goldsworthy effectively captures the sly wit and gleeful cheek Porter is well known for, though this cabaret incarnation is much more upfront about his sexuality than the real Cole ever was during his lifetime. Still, this creative liberty enhances the intimacy of the show, with the audience positioned in the role of confidantes whom Cole can entrust with secrets he dare not share with his closest friends. Another inaccuracy that works to enhance the show’s entertainment value is that Griffiths makes no attempt to imitate the real Cole Porter’s gratingly nasal tone and very limited range as a vocalist. Griffiths’ renditions are powerfully dynamic, and focused on capturing the underlying emotion of each piece, rather than imitating the nuances of any previous interpretation (of which there are many iconic examples).

This show does nothing revolutionary or groundbreaking, but for fans of the composer, this classy tribute is a must see.

Benjamin Orchard

Image: Nicholas Purcell Studio.