There’s talk Joni Mitchell should be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. She’s an extraordinary lyricist and writes beautiful melodies. Some people suggest – that when the time comes – Mitchell should be made the patron saint of melancholy.
However, I think her metier is simply honesty. Her songs are deeply personal – but not in the contemporary fashion of My story must be told – rather in the more generous-hearted sense of This is where it hurts for me; perhaps it’s the same for you?
This seems to be Queenie van de Zandt’s experience of Mitchell. And, just as Dante had Virgil to guide him through Hell and Purgatory, and Beatrice to escort him through Heaven, we’ve been blessed with the best of all guides in our journey through Mitchell’s utterly divine catalogue.
van de Zandt has the most exquisite voice and her interpretation of the songs is so clear and so genuine that it transcends mere performance and becomes a soul-expanding sharing.
Under the musical direction of Max Lambert, her band is utterly superb.
There are songs from the album Blue, but also some of Mitchell’s popular hits like Big Yellow Taxi, Woodstock and Both Sides Now. Written by van de Zandt and Lambert, the show places each song within a biographical context, either Mitchell’s or our guides’.
This splendid evening of cabaret is both the perfect introduction to Mitchell’s work and a priceless celebration for long-time fans.
Paul Gilchrist
Blue: The Songs of Joni Mitchell
Starring Queenie van de Zandt
At Hayes Theatre until July 7
Image by Maria Alzate
Theatre Red 