Newton-John Sates Crowd at the Central Canada Exhibition
By Elizabeth Duncan
Olivia Newton-John, not the country girl from Nashville, but the woman who grew up in Australia and was taken under Nashville’s country-music wing, was the Grandstand feature Sunday at the Central Canada Exhibition.
The spotlight failed during the 5:30 p.m. show, but, except for the strange purple cast given Newton-John occasionally, lighting seemed in order for the 8: 30 p.m. performance.
When Newton-John appeared, in gold jump-suit, there was no tiresome wait for her well-known Let Me Be There. Newton-John was there with presence, vibrancy and energetic movements that gave a large audience what it wanted.
Although Newton-John does not have the depth or lyrical range of sensitivity that other equally popular female performers offer these days, she knows what people want.
Have You Ever Been Mellow?, If Not For You, Please Mr. Please - the best of Newton-John was the essence of the show.
Her back-up band suited her, and the whole show was done with professional integrity.
She faltered slightly by taking on Honey Pie, which she said was an old English ballad but has become more generally recognized as part of the Beatles White Album.
She stepped up the pace of Honey Pie until the song was almost unrecognizeable.
Her performance is good. If you like Newton-John, spend the money to see her.
She was preceded by Bill (Crash) Craddock, - who pseudo-represents Nashville concept white suit with glittery studs in the right places, guitar-pickin’ and instruments slung on his back.
He impersonated Hank Williams singing Your Cheatin’ Heart and Elvis Presley singing Blue Suede Shoes and, with shirt undone and all the pelvis supplements, Hound Dog. Comic antics apart, Craddock seems to be a Nashville song man with basic earthy songs such as Rub It In and Easy as Pic
The show is to be repeated today at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.