Elaine Page & Michael Ball - The Rec

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Friday 30th Jun 2006.

JULY 15 2006, BATH: Queen of the musicals, Elaine Paige, tells JAINE BLACKMAN why she'll never get fed up with performing the songs that made her famous.

THERE'S good news for Elaine Paige fans who are planning to see her in Bath next month.

Although she's not letting on exactly what she will be singing at the event, all the old favourites are likely to be there.

Elaine, who will be teaming up with Michael Ball for the concert at The Rec in Bath on July 15 as part of the Summer Nights Open Air Concert Series, says she doesn't tire of them.

"You feel safe and comfortable with them, like an old pair of slippers. It's quite pleasant to return to them time and time again."

In fact, she counts herself fortunate that three modern classics Memory from Cats, I Know Him So Well from Chess and As If We Never Said Goodbye from Sunset Boulevard are so closely associated with her.

"I feel like they belong to me and the response is very warm when I sing them," she said.

She also looking forward to singing half a dozen duets with Michael Ball, as well as their individual programmes.

"We've never sung together before although we've done similar shows," said Elaine.

Elaine has appeared in a host of popular musicals. She made her West End debut in Hair, quickly following it up with Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease and Billy before being chosen by producer Hal Prince to create the role of Eva Peron in Evita (1978), the ground breaking Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical.

The 1980s saw Elaine on the West End stage in Cats, Abbacadabra by Abba's Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, Chess, the Ulvaeus/Andersson/Rice musical, and in 1989 she starred in and co-produced the smash hit New York production of Anything Goes in London.

In 1993 she took the title role in Piaf and in 1996 made her triumphant Broadway debut in the role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, following her award-winning performance in London.

Among her numerous awards throughout a glittering career is an OBE for services to musical theatre. Recently she added another string to her bow when she joined BBC Radio 2 with her own lunchtime show, Elaine Paige On Sunday, which regularly attracts more then three million listeners.

Back to Bath, Elaine is looking forward to the show but hoping for good weather.

"Singing outdoors when it's cold or windy is not good news," she said, explaining that apart from the obvious hazards of rain and electricals, wind is picked up by the microphones and affects the sound quality.

"I just hope for a nice, calm, sunny day."

Elaine Page & Michael Ball

The Rec, Bath

Saturday, July 15. Gates open 6.30pm

Tickets: £37.50 plus booking fee

Tel: 0870 400 0688

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