BEAUTIFUL WORLD CABARETS – ALFIE FRIEDMAN
Charing Cross Theatre
★★★★
“A candid performer, he lets us into his world. His unique personality sets him on a tightrope, yet he is fearless in his performance”
Curated by Janie Dee, ‘Beautiful World Cabarets’ is a series of musical evenings running at the Charing Cross Theatre. Featuring nearly twenty artists, with special guests, eighteen concerts are being intimately performed, ostensibly reflecting the world we live in and focusing on the individual artist’s place in that world. Following on from a season at Crazy Coqs, the series is presented in partnership with the London Climate Change Festival, but we needn’t worry about this limiting the performer’s selection of words and music to explore the topics. The mix is as eclectic as the line-up, and each artist is unique enough to stretch the brief to its limits.
And none come more unique than Alfie Friedman. Following a heartfelt introduction by Dee, Friedman casually, yet assuredly, saunters onto the stage. His three-piece backing band, led by pianist and Musical Director John Haslam, are already in place laying down the jazz, opening chords of Declan O’Rourke’s ‘Galileo’. ‘Who puts the rainbow in the sky?’ he asks during the achingly beautiful number that epitomises Friedman’s take on the evening. ‘Love can make you ask some funny questions now and then’. A mixture of wonderment and angst-filled bemusement, Friedman has the wisdom to know that there are no immediate answers, but also the youthful integrity to explore the impossible questions through a set list that turns this evening into pure entertainment. The repertoire borders on chaotic but somehow it blends into a cohesive song cycle. Who else could segue from Sondheim to Sci-fi in just a few semi-quavers?
In a song list that takes in Rebecca Sugar (‘It’s Over Isn’t It?’ from the Steven Universe Cartoon Network series), Keane’s ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ and an excerpt from Yojiro Ichikawa and Eden Tredwell’s “Galaxy Train” musical, it is Stephen Sondheim that dominates. Friedman is an astute interpreter of his work, exhibiting unrivalled control over the intricacies of the melodies and the nuances of the storytelling. A highlight is ‘Franklin Shepard, Inc’ from “Merrily We Roll Along” with its mix of virtuosity and humour allowing Friedman’s talents and stagecraft to truly shine. He is joined onstage, during ‘Gee, Officer Krupke’ by guest singers Sam Sayan and Eileen MacDonald. Later they each have a solo moment in the spotlight: a gorgeous rendition of Craig Carnelia’s ‘Flight’ from MacDonald, while Sayan weaves his velvet voice around Sondheim’s ‘Being Alive’ from “Company”.
Friedman talks a lot about the world being disconnected. His anecdotal banter is polished, and rehearsed to a tee, but each word counts. He talks with true emotion about the need to re-establish human connection. Up close, we see the concern in his eyes. Janie Dee returns to the stage to enact with him a scene from the critically acclaimed “Laughing Boy” they both starred in last year, which precedes a brief discourse on the tragic real-life story of Connor Sparrowhawk who died in NHS care. Friedman doesn’t preach – he just gets us to think about the issues. Words are projected onto the back wall of the stage. Words that reflect the human condition. ‘What the Hell is my condition?’ Friedman asks, ‘nothing makes sense’. What’s it all about, Alfie? (Apologies – I couldn’t resist it. And, no, he certainly didn’t sing that one). We can all relate to that, but one thing for sure is that he makes sense. And it makes perfect sense for him to be up on that stage showcasing his talents as a singer and raconteur. The world may be disconnected, but Friedman connects with his audience.
We cannot help feeling that Janie Dee’s ‘Beautiful World Cabarets’ will become a regular feature on the cabaret scene. We also feel sure that we will be seeing a lot more of Alfie Friedman. A candid performer, he lets us into his world. His unique personality sets him on a tightrope, yet he is fearless in his performance. Cool and furious at the same time. Skilful and emotional simultaneously. With a voice to match. ‘Who lights the stars at night?’, he sings during the opening number. Way before the closing number he has answered his own question for us.
BEAUTIFUL WORLD CABARETS – ALFIE FRIEDMAN
Charing Cross Theatre
Reviewed on 11th July 2025
by Jonathan Evans
Last ten shows reviewed at this venue:
STILETTO | ★★★★ | March 2025
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK: WHAT A WHOPPER! | ★★★ | November 2024
TATTOOER | ★★★ | October 2024
ONE SMALL STEP | ★★ | October 2024
MARIE CURIE | ★★★ | June 2024
BRONCO BILLY – THE MUSICAL | ★★★ | January 2024
SLEEPING BEAUTY TAKES A PRICK! | ★★★★ | November 2023
REBECCA | ★★★★ | September 2023
GEORGE TAKEI’S ALLEGIANCE | ★★★★ | January 2023
FROM HERE TO ETERNITY | ★★★★ | November 2022
