The Show “Believe”The way that I want to do my review of the show is all from my memory. I haven’t read any other reviews, and since I don’t remember the entire set list or the names of all the songs, they will not all be listed here. If I can find a review with a full set list and the names of all the songs, I’ll try and post a link to it at the end. And this is just a review of the first show, Tuesday the 6th, because I wasn’t there on Wednesday.
Before the show began one of the PBS representatives came out and said a few words. Then Scott Porter came out and said a few words of his own. It was the first time I’ve ever seen Scott in person and it was awesome. One of the crew then came out, and I’m going to say he was the director, because he gave us directions on what do to in certain situations. We were told much the same Chloë tells us before every show, that they wanted to see us dancing, clapping, smiling and singing along. He also said that before some songs he would count down from 10 to 4, and at 5 we were supposed to applaud and cheer loudly, to get the audience sound effects before each song. He would go, “7, 6, 5!, 4!” and we’d start cheering at 5 and the song would start a few seconds later. The director also noticed some empty seats in the lower orchestra so he instructed the ushers to bring some lucky people from the orchestra forward, to occupy those seats. There were 2-4 minute breaks in between every song while they reset the stage. Some songs David would be conducting while standing up, and others he would be conducting while playing the piano, so his music stand would be brought out or put away, depending on its need. Tommy did one number from center stage, and another from the upper level from the stage, and a stool for him would need to be brought out. Sometimes the girls would start the song onstage, other times they would start them from backstage, and same with the choir. The children’s choir would need to be brought out and brought backstage, Michael’s dancing platform would need to be brought out and put away, cameras locations would need to be changed, etc. Just some examples of what took place while they were resetting the stage. The band came onstage and moved to their positions, with roaring applause from the audience, and then David took his place at the piano, and we all stood up and gave him a standing ovation before a single note was played. That was awesome. And then the show began. It started a little late, around 7:37, and finished around 10:20, so it was a bit longer than a typical tour show.
The show started much like the past DVDs, with a big group number, involving all the girls and the choir. It was a song I didn’t recognize, but later it was confirmed by Scott on Twitter that it was an original composition called
Awakening. Then it was a Lisa Kelly solo, and again it was one that I didn’t recognize. A Máiréad solo was next, and so far I was zero for three, because I didn’t recognize it either. It was along the lines of
Granuaile’s Dance and
Coast of Galaçia with a slower opening part and a faster closing part. At this point I don’t remember the order of the songs. But eventually David was at the piano and Lisa Kelly was alone on stage and I thought it would be the “Lisa and David song” for the show. The music started and the song turned into
My Heart Was Home Again, one that I was really happy to hear because it was one of the songs on my list that I was hoping would be included in the new show. I would have liked for it to stay a solo number, because I think it works best as a solo, but even as a duet it is still a beautiful number, and eventually Lisa Lambe joined in, making it the first ever “Lisa’s and David song.”
Lisa Lambe’s first solo of the night would turn out to be
Black is the Color. Even though the song is about a guy singing about a girl, I bet all the guys in the audience wished it was about a girl singing about a guy, because Lisa was her usual flirty and seductive self. It also made me happy that I have black hair, just in case.
Give Me Your Hand was performed in the first act, including Tommy’s pipe solo for the intro, and that was also on my list of songs I wanted them to include. I was so happy that they did, that I started singing along to the parts that I knew and Chloë saw me and gave me a smile (yay! Chloë smile!).
Throughout the night the girls gave introductions to some of the songs, much like they did during the
SFTH tour. They weren’t as lengthy but it was still nice to hear their voices. To setup the next song, they had the younger members of the children’s choir sit on the center staircase with the older members sitting on the ledge of the upper level. Chloë and Lisa K came out and sat with the kids on the stairs. Lisa L made her introduction then joined the other girls with the kids on the stairs. It was a precious sight to see. And from there they performed
Bridge Over Troubled Water.
Chloë performed her first solo with Máiréad accompaniment towards the beginning of the first act. Her second solo was towards the end of the first act, and this one had the children’s choir for accompaniment. It was called
Tears in Heaven. After the show I overheard other forum members say how Chloë became emotional during this song and started to cry. I didn’t notice any of it, because Chloë did such a wonderful job with the song that I started to cry, myself. As the children’s choir left the stage Chloë just smiled at them as they walked off, and anyone could tell she just adored them.
Towards the end of the first act, they performed a tribute to a couple of broadway songs, the first one was
I Dreamed a Dream and the second was
Circle of Life from
The Lion King. They were performed as one song, with a transition between the two, and they were beautiful. I was so happy to hear they performed another Disney song because I love Disney songs, and they always perform them so wonderfully!
The new céili number was performed at the end of the first act. And while the girls were getting into their dresses the director took the opportunity to get more audience applause sounds for the DVD. First he had us doing quiet golf claps, then announced that gas was only $1.50 a gallon and we all roared into applause and cheers, and then he said gas was only $0.50 a gallon and we clapped even louder! It was a funny way to get us to applaud, but of course if he wanted us to clap the loudest all he needed to do was have one of the girls on stage
but since they were off changing I know he did the best he could. The new céili number was very fun, and, again, was about the girls looking for a guy. The Irish dancer, Michael, was one of the guys and we got our first glimpse of how amazing he was, and I noticed all the girls were not wearing shoes for this number, adding a bit to the fun. I even thought I saw Lisa L break out the spoons for a short bit somewhere during the song. A fun one for sure.
There was a 15-20 minute intermission where I got to speak to more forumites about how amazing the show was, and I even saw the PBS people on the stage, recording the spiel for their pledge breaks.
The second act started and Lisa Kelly and Chloë walked onto the stage, looking beautiful in their new dresses. Then all of a sudden the other side of the audience started to sing happy birthday to Ray, since it was his birthday. The rest of us chimed in and when it was over, Lisa said, “this wouldn’t be the first time we’ve had to hold up the show because of Ray.”
I just love that Lisa. The two of them then went on to say how they wanted us to participate in singing along in a song later in the show,
Green Grow the Rushes. With the assistance of David at the piano, they taught us the lyrics to the chorus, and they even had a little competition to see who sang it better, just for fun. The left side of the audience was Team Chloë and the right side was Team Lisa. You’ll probably get a different answer depending on who you ask, but if you ask me, Team Lisa won.
Truthfully, though, we were all winners because we were all there to experience that amazing night.
Green Grow the Rushes turned out to be the second or third song in the act.
Lisa K’s second solo turned out to be
The Water is Wide. I’ve been waiting for them to do that one, and Lisa sang it beautifully. For Lisa L’s second solo, it started with a familiar drum beat, and eventually I recognized it as
A Spaceman Came Traveling! I was hoping to one day see that one live. I’m glad they included it. Chloë’s final solo of the night ended up being one she has performed before, just a different version. It was
Ave Maria but the Schubert version, not the Bach one. For this song one of the cellists from the orchestra came forward to accompany Chloë. Another cellist had come forward earlier in the show for the first of the two cello solos that night, and I want to take the time here to say that they were really nice. A couple of forumites in the front row had a chance to chat with them before the songs started, and one of them even joked, that if his bow flew out of his hands someone better be ready to catch it! Let me end this little tangent by saying that everyone involved in the Celtic Woman show, cast and crew, are the nicest people in the business. Chloë finished her song and it was beautiful. Máiréad’s final solo of the night was much like her second act solos of the past, one slower ballad followed immediately by much quicker-paced toe tapper that you just can’t help but clap along to. Michael joined Máiréad, and at times they were caught in a duel, between Michael’s tap-dancing and Máiréad’s fiddling. They were both winners though, because both of their performances were brilliant. It was something very new to a CW show and also something very awesome. Hopefully Michael will join them on tour. For those who are curious, there was no “trio” number with Máiréad, Ray, and Andy.
The last unreleased song I wanted them to perform was finally done in the second act,
Walking the Night. I’m really happy we now have all the songs from the
Songs from the Heart set on a recording, because they are much too good not to be.
You’ll Never Walk Alone was performed sometime during the second act. Another breathtaking number. The
Danny Boy replacement ended up being
Smile, as the a cappella number with Máiréad, which was simply beautiful, and the finale ended up being
The Parting Glass. A wonderful closing to a wonderful show. They had confetti cannons setup around the stage for the finale, and they went off just as the song ended, with Anthony and pipe band and all. Just as a keepsake, I took some of the confetti home with me. And in case someone thinks I’m a geek for doing so, it’s not like I picked it up off the ground or anything, it fell in my bag. Yep, that’s what I’ll tell them…
After the show, us forumites wandered over to a restaurant right next to the theater for our post-show mingle. We were upstairs, but a few minutes after we got there, many of the band, choir, and even David himself, came in and had their own little gathering downstairs. For the most part we left them alone, and it was cool to see them all out and about like that.
One thing I was hoping they would include in the show that they didn’t was the band solo bits during the finale, like the ones they did during the
SFTH tour. I thought it would have been neat if it was included on a DVD. Nonetheless, it was an absolutely amazing show. David has composed a winner once again, and no one will be disappointed with the outcome.
One observation I made during the show, was that the big “dancy” numbers, like
Níl Sé’n Lá,
Mo Ghile Mear, and
At the Céili were not it in, and even Máiréad’s solos and the new céili number were a bit more calm and laid back than those of previous shows. And I though it helped give the new show a more personal, intimate feeling, like the girls were performing to just one person, or to the individual rather a group, with the simple inspirational message to believe. I don’t know if it was intended or not but that’s the way I felt and it was done very well, regardless.
This was certainly a massive, once-in-a-lifetime event. Not just because of the taping, that’s only part of the reason. The other part was by the huge number of forum members that were present at one show. I’ve heard others say, that this was the largest forum gathering ever assembled, and it will probably never be duplicated, and I would say that they are right. From meeting up with Rachel in Phoenix and meeting Cindy at the airport in Atlanta, to spotting Gary in the hotel lobby and running into Scott T on my way to the train station while heading home, I was seeing forum folk everywhere. Even while checking into the hotel and harmless little trips on the elevator I was meeting faces who I hadn’t seen yet that day. Non forum members were very chatty as well, and I was striking up conversations even while crossing the street. I think it is a true statement when I say, we are more than just forum members, we are more than forum friends, that we are a forum family, and I am just left speechless, to know that I am a part of this special group. To everyone who is a part of the CW online community, you guys rock. It was an incredible day and the most fun I’ve probably ever had. The Fabulous Fox Theatre certainly lived up to its name is so many ways.
I found a review with a more detailed description of the set list by Mr. Peabody. I hope Mike doesn’t mind me linking to his review:
Awesome in Atlanta – Part 2, Believe night 1
