Review: Rex Smith’s Valentine concert at The Parklane Cebu
The Parklane International Hotel is making its mark in bringing international talent to
A singer, song writer, and Broadway star, Rex Smith shot to TV fame as the heartthrob lead of the 1979 NBC-TV movie Sooner or Later. He also appeared in TV sitcoms like JAG, Baywatch and Danielle Steele’s Once in a Lifetime. He likewise nurtured a successful Broadway career. He starred in West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera, and The Pirates of Penzance, where he bagged the Theater World Award.
The 52-year-old singer-actor has wowed audiences all over the world with his poignant love songs and catchy lyrics. With superior vocal prowess, he starred in several Broadway shows, totalling more than 360 Broadway shows in his illustrous career.
The Valentine concert opened with Olivia, a young jazz diva who the famous balladeer described as a bundle of talent. He was so impressed with this young lady that he said he is planning to come back and collaborate with her on a Broadway-themed concert. Her album titled Gentle Jazz showcased this talented young woman’s vocal range. She can snap her fingers and duwap-duwap with upbeat jazz songs, yet could belt out Broadway numbers that have overwhelmed seasoned singers. She sang a cut from her album, a jazzy rendition of The Way You Look Tonight. She had the audience spellbound right at the beginning so much so when she sang a medley of songs she right away had audiences singing along with her. Her beauty and charm was a perfect balance for the main attraction and melted the hearts of the usually cautious Cebuano audiences so that when Rex Smith took over the stage, the audience was already set in a mellow, romantic mood.
Rex Smith, together with his Filipino band and two female back-up vocalists, opened their Valentine concert—Cebu being the 8th leg of their Philippine tour—with an upbeat Everlasting Love, followed by Forever, then a song that he said is a continuation of his famous Simply Jesse saga titled Jessie Will You Love Me. He then belted out Foolish Heart, Steal Away, Goodbye to You and Let’s Make a Memory which he said he composed when he was “quite young”.
The whole Victoria Hall of The Parklane faded to black and got enclosed in darkness with just his soulful voice in focus, as he set the stage for a whirlwind journey of Broadway songs of Andrew Lloyed Webber in the Phantom of the Opera with Rex Smith as “the phantom” and Olivia as the talented Christine. Olivia impressed the audience when she stood her ground during their duet and belted out high pitch notes that can make the many singers who played the role of Christine proud.
Rex Smith also belted out another Broadway song, Somewhere, then reverted from Broadway back to being a balladeer with songs Simply Jessie, Sailing, Don’t Give up on Us, Buttercup, and Take My Breath Away. He also spinned out his own version of songs he composed but popularized by other artists: True (sang by Spandau Ballet) and Everybody Wants to Rule the World (sang by Tears for Fears).
His encore performance of Have Fun Tonight capped the romantic Valentine evening. Rex Smith described the Filipino audience as naturally romantic. He said, “Everyday seems like Valentine’s Day for people here in the
The sold out tickets and the packed venue proved that. It was a truly memorable Valentine evening indeed!
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