Angela Jackson, a jazz performer and writer, leads a variety show based around the various figures who have inspired her throughout her life, focused on the trials and joys of romantic love. Jackson sings her way through her own teenage dating experiences and lessons she learned later in life. She merges together wisdom from philosophers, psychologists, artists, and of course, the 1989 rom-com When Harry Met Sally.
At first I was a little dubious — perhaps upon realising I seemed to be on the younger side of the audience demographic — but as soon as the first notes of a Julie London ballad began to play, Jackson’s silky voice had instantly made any doubt obsolete. Accompanied by Malcolm MacFarlane on the guitar, Jackson’s renditions of Julie London’s discography were smooth, rich, and captivating.
And so, the Shanghai club was transformed into a sultry jazz bar, albeit with a life-sized cardboard cut-out of a young Johnny Marr (the lead guitarist of The Smiths) always lurking in the background — a paper-form reminder of Jackson’s teenage celebrity crush, and in her eyes, the perfect man.
At times the talking segments in between songs appeared to be stilted, and the jokes sometimes fell flat. However, the audience I was seated with seemed to laugh at all the punchlines, so perhaps the humour just wasn’t quite my cup of tea.
Ultimately, this laid-back, comedic, advice-fuelled show offers a sung meditation on the joys of love, and the pains of heartbreak — how to come out of these things unscathed, and how to learn something from them.
When Harry Met Sally Met Julie Met Jazz Met Kierkegaard Met Jung Met Lovely Johnny Marr is running until 30 August at Shanghai, Le Monde. Buy tickets here.
Image by Angela Jackson, provided to The Student for press use.
