Keith McNamara is bringing his ‘Phantom: A Tribute Michael Crawford’ show to Tasmania.

It’s McNamara’s first time performing in Tasmania. The only singing he has done in Tasmania before, jokingly, “is singing in the shower”.

McNamara’s love of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ and his appreciation of Michael Crawford’s ‘Phantom’ began as a student. McNamara tells me an excursion was ‘the first time the music touched him’. McNamara adds that his natural voice was so like Crawfords it was as if Crawford’s voice “was part of his own DNA.” Due to that similarity, he calls his tribute “98 per cent Crawford”. To have such a strong connection to a particular artist’s music is saying a lot for someone like McNamara, who has mastered many different styles.

“Vocally,” McNamara says, “Crawford’s voice is one of the greats” because like a few others, it is instantly recognisable. While McNamara appreciates the singular attributes of all the great Phantom voices, he says when you “instantly know a voice”, it is something unique. McNamara says Crawford’s voice “evokes a feeling of sympathy, loneliness and sadness, in its robust operatic sound.”

While the show will provide a general overview of Crawford’s career, it is not intended to be a comprehensive history. Instead, it will highlight special moments, such as when MacNamara met Crawford and got his autograph. There is also a moment in the show when McNamara displays a picture of Crawford as a thank you for his music. This moment is well received by the audiences with applause and emotion including tears.

The show, which is possibly one of its kind, gives a rare chance for fans, says McNamara, to gather to celebrate the songs and career of their idol in “real time” rather than only listening to recordings. As well as the well-known songs, there are some special songs from Crawford’s back catalogue that are not heard anywhere else.

While Crawford now lives in New Zealand, McNamara tells me he still performs and his voice is as wonderful as ever. He cites a musical from a couple of years ago and a recent production of Wizard of Oz in London. Crawford retains a warm relationship with Australia and is patron of the Australian Lighthouse Foundation.

McNamara speaks of special moments in the songs ‘Tell me on a Sunday’ and ‘Gethsemane’ and there are moments too, such as the singing of ‘The Music of the Night’ when a pin can be heard to drop in the audience.

‘Phantom: A Tribute Michael Crawford’ is a production faithful to Michael Crawfords intimate style of storytelling.

You can see the show at the following dates and venues.

  • Saturday 11 July at 2:00pm, Albert Hall, Launceston
  • Sunday 23 August at 2:00pm, The Theatre Royal, Hobart

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