Making Old Favourites Their Own
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
Don’t go to Billboard in Concert 1986 if you want to hear songs that sound exactly the way they were in 1986. This revue show gives each old song its own interpretation. Each performer presents their numbers in their own style.
Billboard in Concert 1986 is now on stage at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre for a brief run. It features a very talented cast, and I’m guessing none of them were alive in 1986, which gives them the ability to be versatile with the hit songs of that year. So just to be clear, don’t go to this show if you’re looking for a tribute band to recreate 1986 songs just the way they were, if you are old enough to remember them.
Michelle Bardach kicks off the concert with her powerhouse voice, singing a Heart favourite “What About Love?”. Bardach is fresh from the Capitol’s hit musical Rez Gas where she played Aurora, the rich girl with attitude. Bardach has excellent stage presence, lighting up the theatre.
Joining her on stage are Zoe O’Connor and Kelsey Verzotti. The three women take turns singing lead and back up. O’Connor offers an excellent rendition of “All I Need is a Miracle”, a big hit from Mike + the Mechanics. Verzotti beautifully sings Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colours”, an obvious audience favourite. There are many more hit songs brought back to life by these three.
Also on stage are two local singers: Shannon Linton and Colin Ronald. They each sing several solos, accompanying themselves on guitar. Linton is an amazing soprano and sings Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All”, with a rich, full voice. For that number, pianist Jeff Newberry accompanies her. Ronald starts whistling and I know he was going to give us my favourite Dire Straits’ song “Walk of Life”, which he did perfectly. Both of these local singers are standouts, each with a wide array of 1986 hits performed in their amazing voices.
Two numbers which don’t seem to fit the roster are “R-O-C-K in the USA” and “Living in America”. These days we expect to see more Canadian content highlighted. A quick Google search tells me that in 1986 Loverboy had a hit with “Heaven in Your Eyes”, a song so popular it was used in the movie Top Gun! Or Kim Mitchell’s “Patio Lanterns” would have offered a lot of fun, as would Glass Tiger’s “Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone”.
The band is excellent with Newberry on piano, Matt Ray on guitar, Haneul Yi (who played Toad in last year’s “A Year with Frog and Toad”) on guitar 2/percussion/vocals, Tami Sorovaiski on bass, and David Schotzko on drums/percussion.
Former board chair of the Capitol Theatre, Dan Fraleigh, plays host for the concert, showing up in three different costumes giving us an 80s fashion show.
So, whether you were bar-hopping and singing the songs in 1986, or maybe you were just a baby, there are numbers in this concert to enjoy. For some it will be a nostalgia trip, while others might see this as an introduction to something they haven’t heard before.
Billboard in Concert 1986 continues at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope until September 28, 2025. Tickets are available at the box office by calling 905-885-1071 or visiting https://capitoltheatre.com/
Photo: Michelle Bardach, Zoe O’Connor and Kelsey Verzotti in Billboard in Concert 1986. Photo by Tracey Allison.
Billboard in Concert 1986
Conceived by Jeff Newberry & Rob Kempson
Directed by Rob Kempson
Musical Direction by Jeff Newberry
Performed by Michelle Bardach, Zoe O’Connor, Kelsey Versotti, with Shannon Linton and Colin Ronald
Hosted by Dan Fraleigh
Capitol Theatre, Port Hope
September 26 to 28, 2025
Reviewed by Mary Alderson