Review – In Vogue: Songs by Madonna
Michael Griffiths has two shows that he will alternate throughout this year’s fringe. In Vogue (played on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays) has Griffiths take on the persona of Madonna. Through it he tells anecdotes about her life and career, whilst covering snippets of her songbook throughout the show. His other show, Sweet Dreams (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday), covers the songs and career of Annie Lennox.
In Vogue is a light-hearted and fun show. Whilst Griffiths does take on the character of Madonna, he is not in costume and makes no real attempt to alter his voice, either in speaking or singing. As Madonna, Griffiths shares stories from her life and career to great comic effect. He demonstrates excellent comedic timing and develops a fantastic rapport with the audience – both critical skills, as the anecdotes might otherwise have been lost on all but die-hard Madonna fans.
Griffiths has a beautifully rich and deep singing voice. Paired with his own skilful piano accompaniment, his covers of the pop diva’s classics are totally unforgettable and, at times, haunting. He strikes a good balance between playing Madonna’s mega-hits and her lesser-known songs, therefore pleasing both fans and the average punter. And he weaves these covers through the story-telling: always using relevant songs, although not always in their entirety. While this is clever, it can be frustrating at times to only hear small segments of promising covers.
Overall, Griffiths is an extremely charismatic and entertaining performer; In Vogue is a delight for anyone, and a must-see for Madonna enthusiasts.
