@ Albert Halls, Stirling, on Sat 11 Mar
Marcella Puppini, Kate Mullins and Emma Smith are The Puppini Sisters. They are a close harmony vocal trio who have delivered, developed and refined their idiosyncratic style for a number of years with increasing success. Instrumental support comes from a fantastic three man band of guitar, double bass and drums.
Tonight, the auditorium for this well-attended show is set out in rows of unassuming chairs in front of a black and fairly high stage. The interior of the stage is lit intriguingly in dark red, revealing as yet only a drum kit.
Then… the music starts, the red light intensifies and a dream in red swings onto the stage; three women – one blonde, one brunette, one redhead – each clad in a different vibrant red dress, singing the song that gives the tour its name: “Is this the High Life?”
The Puppini Sisters have arrived. Instant feel-good atmosphere.
Flair, music, fabulous vocals transpose the audience to a different era, somewhere between the 30s and the 50s. Mr. Sandman brings the Andrews Sisters to mind. The audience responds to the energy on stage by gently clapping along. The stage lighting focuses almost entirely on the swinging sisters, the band glowing purply in the background.
Next… the scene changes. The music softens. The blonde sister, Kate Mullins, takes the stage for a solo. A reinterpretation of Love Me Tender. A challenge by any means. Mullins rises to it entirely – with emotion, but not too much, and great conviction.
The journey continues with a medley of seven contemporary songs arranged into one piece that belongs firmly to the 40s, and a solo by Marcella Puppini that shows off what lows and highs this beautiful voice can achieve.
After the interval, the red dresses have been replaced by petticoat creations in pale blue, pink and yellow, covered in pom-poms of the same colour, complimented by pom-pom headdresses – perfect attire for the 50s version of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. A tribute to David Bowie in the form of a 50s interpretation of Changes is very clever.
Emma Smith delivers a strong solo based on Frank Sinatra and the evening finishes with the Puppini Sisters’ own fabulous swinging songs and a version of Supercalafragilisticexpialidocious.
It’s a hugely entertaining evening, with a camp stage show, fantastic outfits, brilliant voices, great music and a lot of flair. Only a cafe-style setting in the venue could have brought audience and performers closer together.