Went to Donna's show at Casino Rama this past Tuesday night, the show was totally OUTSTANDING! As the audience waited for Donna, Giorgio Moroder's " Chase" was played over the loud speakers, and then a notice appeared on one of the large video screens advising that tonight's artist was recording the performance - later there was a camera crew at the front of the stage throughout the show (hmm... TV special?). The show started with the " Intro of the guard" and then as The Queen is Back started playing, one of the partitions revealed what at first looked like a mannequin, but in fact it was Donna. She looked great, dressed in her long purple gown and long gloves. There were a total of 4 costume changes that evening. Even though the audience didn't seem to know her new songs, she got a good response. Sitting fourth row from the stage my friend and I noticed Mary glancing at us a few times, as we knew all the lyrics to the new songs. The entire stage was very colorful, (crayons) and all the background scenes changed with every song. New background singers (except for Mary) different band members, except for Nathan DiGesare and 3 very good male dancers who kept the crowd entertained while Donna did her costume changes. At one point, they went into the crowd dancing up and down the aisles. Noticeably absent this time around is Bruce Sudano. Every performance was top notch, Sand on my feet was terrific live, Mr Music was played with guitar riffs and with a DJ spinning records. When Donna dueted with Mary on No More Tears, that was a powerhouse moment. The most poignant song of the evening was Be Myself Again, which even woke up the unknown sleepy head beside me. There were a few brave seniors attempting to go into the aisles throughout the show, but security quickly stopped them. That wasn't the case with the big Last Dance Finale, as all the semi comatose people in the first 3 rows finally rushed to the stage and the entire theatre was on its feet.
This was the kind of show that is too good for a Casino venue, it needs to be in the city, Molson Amphitheater, or Hummingbird Centre. Later, at the end of the show, there was a line up outside buying merchandise, and all the Crayons CD's sold out (which proves people will love it if they hear it). The best Donna Summer show I have seen so far. Here's the song list:
Intro/Changing Of The Guard, The Queen Is Back, I Feel Love, Dim All the Lights, I'M a Fire (the long version, with spanish lyrics, Donna said she had another # 1 with this song, my friend and I yelled out, you had TWO!), Sand on My Feet, Be Myself Again, On the Radio, Mr Music, Crayons (terrific), No More Tears, MacArthur Park, Stamp Your Feet, Slide Over Backwards (with all the background singers and dancers on stage, and Donna making fun at Mary), Selah(?) Mary's solo, She Works Hard.. Bad Girls/ Hot Stuff (no offence to Donna, this needs to be updated a little), Last Dance Finale
- Anthony, Toronto
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