If you struggle to believe that a grown man with a deep baritone can convince you that he is in fact Madonna, be prepared to suspend your disbelief. This show presents Madge in a whole new refreshing way and does so convincingly without any need for a wig or costumes.
Even if you aren’t all that familiar with the songs, Griffith’s beautiful vocal register and impressive range will keep you captivated.
In Vogue: Songs by Madonna is a fabulous one man cabaret show which pays homage to but also sometimes pokes fun at the Queen of Pop. Throughout the hour, Michael Griffiths takes us on a journey through Madonna’s early musical career and her eventful life as “the most famous bitch in the world”.
Accompanied by just a piano and cleverly coordinated lighting, Griffiths breathes new life to Madonna’s greatest hits. In between songs, he reads excerpts from a little red book – the lyrical birthplace of soon-to-be-big hits – which provide an entertaining monologue that is dripping with sardonic and camp humour.
Griffiths doesn’t need to look the part to be believable as he is just such a gifted chameleon. You quickly take no notice of the visual contradiction as everything about his performance – the inflections of his voice, his mannerisms, his flirty, cheeky disposition when interacting with the audience – just exudes the spirit of Madonna.
Even if you aren’t all that familiar with the songs, Griffith’s beautiful vocal register and impressive range will keep you captivated. His more stripped back renditions open up the songs for fresh interpretation, for example the infamous hit Like A Virgin becomes symbolic of Madonna’s motherhood while Don’t Cry For Me Argentina humorously represents her attempted foray into Hollywood.
In Vogue: Songs by Madonna is a deliciously enthralling musical experience that celebrates Madonna and reminds us all why she is the Queen of Pop. If you weren’t already a Madonna fan when you got there, you will be when you leave.
