The Stage

John Barrowman

Published Thursday 7 July 2005 at 11:05 by Mark Shenton

The Glasgow-born, American accented John Barrowman has made a steady progress through the ranks of musical theatre since he first arrived on the scene as a replacement leading man in Anything Goes opposite Elaine Paige in 1989, most recently going full circle to lead the same show when it was revived in a new production at the National. In-between, he has criss-crossed the Atlantic to appear on Broadway and in films, lately, he has also been seen as Dr Who’s assistant Captain Jack.

He is nothing if not versatile and as he now at last makes his London cabaret debut, there is a rare chance for an audience to get close up and personal with him. Even - or perhaps especially - at close quarters, the gleaming smile and dimpled, cheeky charm are dazzling but it’s a pleasure to discover that there is more to him than mere matinee idol good looks.

It is refreshing, for one thing, to find him being disarmingly frank about his own life. Though it should come as no surprise to anyone in the business - though maybe to a few disappointed matinee matrons - he is gay. It’s no big deal and he doesn’t make it one but he is also so upfront about it that it immediately ushers in an honest approach to the rest of the show.

Like the best cabaret, this is an opportunity to get to know the man, as well as hear some classic songs beautifully done. He doesn’t shirk in either department. With some well-placed anecdotes about both family and career, he brings a light, effortless insouciance to a wide repertoire that stretches from Porter and Sondheim to Scottish folk songs and pop like the Enrique Iglesias hit, Let Me Be Your Hero.