Never A Dull moment As Newton-John Sings
That human jukebox, Olivia Newton-John, hit the Pine Knob Music Theatre stage Sunday night with a knock-out of a show that was full value for the sky-high $17.50 pavilion tariff, the highest ticket price of the summer.
What you get for your money (she repeats the show at 8pm tonight) is an evening of high production values, some fine singing and the chance to ogle the comely Newton-John, an opportunity many of her admirers at Pine Knob would classify as priceless to begin with.
You get to see Newton-John in several costumes, and if hemlines rise with the stock market, she is right on the trend. Her costumes are heavy on leg, short on material. She started the show In a black and silver sequined outfit that made her look like a sultry Peter Pan. Midway through, it was a switch to a red and silver sequin suit. Then it was a purple and blue velour outfit before running through “Physical,” her monster single, in a Detroit Tigers T-shirt and gym shorts.
AND YOU GET more than just a famous singer belting out her string of hits. The show started with a filmed retrospective of Newton-John’s career, complete with a rocking overture of her hits played by Tom Scott’s fine backup band.
The fans provided the next visual exhibition, lighting up the Clarkston sky with flashbulbs during the opening two songs, “Deeper Than the Night” and “Have You Ever Been Mellow.”
And the screaming? You’d have thought Elvis was making a comeback from the crypt.
For “Have to Believe in Magic,” the stage was shrouded in a mysterious fog and for “Take to the Sky,” the stage was blanketed with confetti-like sequins that reflected the colored lighting high above the stage.
ABOUT THE only fault a nit-picker could find was Newton-John’s dancing. The pony went out years ago, dear, and after dancing with Gene Kelly in “Xanadu,” you’re capable of much better.
But then there’s the music: who besides Neil Diamond can offer up the array of Top 40 hits that Newton-John can and did Sunday night?
In case you’ve forgotten, remember these: “Let Me Be There,” “If Not for You.” “Please Mister Please (Don’t Play B-17),” “If You Love Me Let Me Know,” “Oh Sam,” “Xanadu,” “Have to Believe in Magic,” “Suddenly,” “Will a Little More Love Make It Right?” “Fallin’, Fallin’, Fallin’,” “Make a Move on Me,” “Landslide,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “You’re the One that I Want,” and of course, a wonderfully cranked-up version of “Physical.”
Newton-John offered up 23 tunes in an hour and a half that never drags. And of course, it helps to have an audience full of devotees to feed off of. If Newton-John is instrumental in bringing the miniskirt back, her followers will keep the Farrah Fawcett hairdo alive. Never has so much blonde hair been so angel winged.
By John Smyntek, Free Press Asst. Entertainment Editor
Photo caption: Olivia kept her fans whooping at Pine Knob