Jacques Brel is Alive and Well at MetroStage
Natascia Diaz, one of D.C. theater’s greatest performers, is currently polishing Jacques Brel’s standard “Ne Me Quitte Pas (“If You Go Away”) at MetroStage in Alexandria, a revue of the late mid-20th century Belgian songwriter. It’s a show that anyone who loves pop music and the theater should see. It’s surprising that more people don’t know Brel’s music, which is rock with a very theatrical bent. But then Brel’s under-appreciated artistry adds to the power of the show. The MetroStage performers — four singers and three musicians led by pianist Jenny Cartney — aren’t just singing or playing parts, showing off their fine chops; they’re sharing the Brel experience as a kind of communal, bonding experience. All told, Brel is a powerful night at the theater, the kind of night you might not expect in a still-largely industrial part of Alexandria on the river’s edge â€" unless you’ve been to the unassuming but high-caliber MetroStage before. Jacques Brel just may be the most moving show on any stage currently running. To Oct. 21. MetroStage, 1201 North Royal St., Alexandria. Tickets are $48 to $55. Call 800-494-8497 or visit metrostage.org.
Read Doug Rule’s full review here.
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