Review: Joy all round as Self Esteem performs at York Museum Gardens
When the star performer bursts into tears during the opening number, there’s always an unnerving sense things could spiral quickly.
But Rebecca Lucy Taylor blasted that theory into the beautiful setting sun at York Museum Gardens as Self Esteem delivered a fittingly emphatic performance on her return to Yorkshire.
It wasn’t too clear what saw her unmistakable voice crack as it did just seconds into I Do And I Don’t Care.
She already looked emotional when entering the stage. However, rather than attempting to style it out, Taylor fessed up fairly quickly that all was not well and it’d been a crazy day - but the smile remained and the show kicked on.
And what a show. With her dynamic and multi-talented entourage all similarly attired in the devotional costume that’s become her trademark since last year’s A Complicated Woman, it’s an attack on the senses.
There’s a lot going on. And that’s before anyone even gets to 69…
When Taylor talks into a banana as she so often does in live performances of I Do This All The Time, it’s hard not to think about Oscar-winner Gary Oldman consuming a few, literally just around the corner at York Theatre Royal during last year’s run of Krapp’s Last Tape.
While that’s the archetypal one-man show, this is far from it.
With the energy and frisson between them, it’s clear just how much Taylor thrives off her fellow dancers, and dedicated fans join en masse with numerous big-hitting numbers.
In Plain Sight hits just the right note while her bandmates join in a huddle for the wonderful What Now in a cappella.
When chatting to the crowd, Taylor takes time to apologise to her make-up artist - “I f***ed that up song one” - and stylist, after confessing she didn’t wear one outfit because it was just too hot.
The 345 is another stirring number - “we talk about going up the mountain everyone” - before closing with If Not Now, It’s Soon and the anthemic The Deep Blue Okay.
The sound goes awry for a few seconds in I Do This All The Time during the encore when Taylor and her bandmates show genuine concern and dismay that the crowd have missed it all and can’t hear a thing.
She needn’t have worried. A clearly elated young girl named Alice joins Taylor on stage for the rousing Focus is Power, the last song of an evocative night when the powerhouse from Rotherham once more shows she’s more than happy to share the love - and the stage - to bring joy all round.