Posted on December 11, 2005 at 12:00 pm

It’s what you always hope for but so rarely get: pure, unmediated theatrical ecstasy. One of the ironies of live performance — which is, of necessity, in the moment — is that it’s all too often a recycling of past moments; the spontaneity is drained by repetition and rehearsal. But last night, at the New Players Theatre, a cabaret performance came into its own when Jason Robert Brown — the New York composer and performer — sprung a brilliant surprise on his 24-strong onstage backing choir from the Royal Academy of Music, and asked if any of them performed his songs themselves (apart from now!). Many did — it’s amazing that, though he’s never had a West End show, his work is very well known here in musical theatre circles.

After taking the titles of what they sang, he then invited a young Canadian called Peter Navickas to perform ‘It’s Hard to Speak My Heart’ from his Tony Award winning score to Parade; and the amazing, unprepared performance that resulted came straight from the heart. It was spellbinding to watch, and utterly unrepeatable, too: a moment that couldn’t be caught again, because of the surprise of it for all of the participants.

But then Jason Robert Brown is the kind of performer that frequently takes himself offguard, too. As he rambles inbetween songs, he finds himself on unexpected verbal journeys. But it’s the songs — each a complete story in itself — that travel furthest. It’s shocking that London has so far only seen his song compilation, Songs for a New World, briefly at the Bridewell; it’s high time we saw and heard more.

It would also be great to see more made of the New Players. Artistic director Mark Clements told me last night that he now parted management ways with Brian Daniels and Off-West End Theatres Ltd (who also control the New End Theatre in Hampstead and Shaw Theatre near Euston Station) and is going it alone in charge of the theatre. It’s a perfect spot for cabaret — a much neglected form in London — that forges a superb intimacy between performer and audience. But its artistic programme — made up of productions that have hitherto simply hired the theatre — has failed to give it an identity up to now. Mark is determined to establish one.

After taking the titles of what they sang, he then invited a young Canadian called Peter Navickas to perform ‘It’s Hard to Speak My Heart’ from his Tony Award winning score to Parade; and the amazing, unprepared performance that resulted came straight from the heart. It was spellbinding to watch, and utterly unrepeatable, too: a moment that couldn’t be caught again, because of the surprise of it for all of the participants.

But then Jason Robert Brown is the kind of performer that frequently takes himself offguard, too. As he rambles inbetween songs, he finds himself on unexpected verbal journeys. But it’s the songs — each a complete story in itself — that travel furthest. It’s shocking that London has so far only seen his song compilation, Songs for a New World, briefly at the Bridewell; it’s high time we saw and heard more.

It would also be great to see more made of the New Players. Artistic director Mark Clements told me last night that he now parted management ways with Brian Daniels and Off-West End Theatres Ltd (who also control the New End Theatre in Hampstead and Shaw Theatre near Euston Station) and is going it alone in charge of the theatre. It’s a perfect spot for cabaret — a much neglected form in London — that forges a superb intimacy between performer and audience. But its artistic programme — made up of productions that have hitherto simply hired the theatre — has failed to give it an identity up to now. Mark is determined to establish one.