‘I enjoyed that more than I thought I would’ is the comment that drifts over the crowd exiting Cambridge Corn Exchange after Alfie Boe’s latest stop on his Facing Myself tour. That pretty much sums up an evening that was both unexpected and extremely enjoyable.
Most people will know Boe from his work in musical theatre, opera, or as one half of the incredibly successful Ball & Boe alongside fellow West End star Michael Ball. ‘I did 11 ½ years community service with that guy’ jokes Boe between songs, ‘I called it Help the Aged’. The current tour is promoting the tenor’s first self-penned album, Face Myself. The audience might have therefore been reasonably expecting a mix of musical numbers and tracks from the album glued together by a few quick cheesy remarks to the crowd.
To an extent they were right: “Bring Him Home” from Les Misérables and “You’ll be Back” from Hamilton make an appearance along with new songs “Ten Thousand Miles”, “Stop Light” and “Meanwhile Gardens”, all of which are met with an enthusiastic response. What we weren’t expecting is the warmth and humour of Boe along with above average amounts of audience interaction. Instead of leaving them politely applauding from their seats, Boe has them on their feet singing, or at least swaying, along. Several audience members get a go on the tambourine and one front rower has their phone confiscated so Boe can take pictures of the five-piece band before returning it.
There are also covers of songs that Boe would hear his dad play: Lonnie Donegan’s “Don’t You Rock Me Daddio” and Roger Miller’s “King of the Road” as well as Italian songs that he invites the audience to sing along to ‘if you know the words’. We are also treated to “Trying to Find a World That’s Been and Gone” by Noel Gallagher, who Boe describes as “a grumpy bastard but a really good song writer”, and Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game”. Then there was the most powerful version of Snow Patrol’s “Run” that I have ever heard with a drawn out introduction showcasing the bands’ incredible instrumental skills before Boe’s formidable voice cuts in, reminding us just how good he is at what he does.
The lighting was skillfully managed, with the house lights glowing for the sing-a-long numbers before fading to blackness for the later songs whilst the stage was illuminated by spot lights and glitter balls. The band performed in front of stacked flight cases and open instrument cases lit by string lights. Support came from singer Jessica Sweetman who has previously collaborated with Boe on the single “Perfect Broken Love”.
Whatever preconceptions the audience brought to the show, it would have been hard to walk away with anything less than huge amounts of admiration for Boe as a singer, songwriter and overall showman. He will have definitely earned himself a few more fans tonight.
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