Day: May 8, 2019

“This is not an impersonation of Marlene Dietrich – Peter Groom IS Marlene”…..Brian Butler

PETER Groom, who is in the early years of his acting career, is a formidable performer. As I said when I reviewed his solo show in Edinburgh last year, this is not an impersonation of Marlene Dietrich – Peter Groom IS Marlene.

His tall frame glides through the audience to open the show. When he turns round to face the audience, there is a gasp from those watching. The look, the face, the hair, the sparkly gown, the pencil-thin eyebrows and Cupid lips are as pitch perfect as his speaking and singing voice.

Not for one second are we witnessing anything but the real Marlene – even when  a complete failure of the technical ‘desk’ led to a 30 minute hiatus. When he returned to the stage – to a round of applause, he went straight back into character and plot with just a sly comical remark.

Groom performs as if doing a show for us, and is annoyed when a voice-over – a magazine reporter – interrupts her flow and tries to goad her into revealing her life story. Her reply? “No I never looked backwards. There is nothing to be learned from my life: nothing at all”.

Leaving the increasingly dangerous 1930’s Germany, Marlene recalls her arrival in Hollywood –  “Land of perfect teeth and ice cream”. But she is no party girl.  “It is the most mythical and disreputable place  in the  world”. Groom stresses her professionalism and her total surrender to the whims of her film directors.

The reminiscences are punctuated with delightful songs – some hauntingly beautiful; some like “ Naughty Lola “ downright loaded  with innuendo.

Many performers have attempted to catch the essence of Marlene – I think of Ute Lemper and  Sian Phillips. But what Groom does is very, very special. He holds us in the palm of his hand for every moment of this 60 minute show. His amazing stillness and his highly emotional use of silence and that certain Dietrich look are mesmerizing.

In the songs he has a very light high-pitched tonality where the highest notes seem to hang in the air till he’s done with them.

All the favourites are here, including Lilli Marlene and Falling in Love Again, but Where Have All The Flowers Gone? is rendered first with anger and then with real tears. But for me the beautiful ballad a Song for Germany is the high point, delivered in German with care, gentleness and perfect tone.

Look out for Peter Groom’s future performances. I’m absolutely certain he has the most magnificent career ahead of him, whatever he chooses to do next.

5 star entertainment all the way.

Natural Duty was at the Rialto Theatre, Brighton as part of the Brighton Fringe.

Review by Brian Butler