REVIEW: Elton Reimagined, Underbelly Boulevard Soho
Musical impressionist Jess Robinson serves up a rainbow of hits
Jess Robinson is regarded as one of Britain’s finest impressionists, but there is much more to her than an extraordinary ability to channel some of the world’s biggest stars.
Her latest show, Elton Reimagined, celebrates the timeless music of Sir Elton John, imagining how his greatest hits might sound if performed by a host of legendary female singers. From Kate Bush and Barbra Streisand to Amy Winehouse, Judy Garland and Britney Spears, Robinson slips effortlessly between voices, capturing each artist’s vocal style and their personality. Her vibrant costumes are every bit as colourful as the performance itself, adding theatrical flair to an already dazzling production.
One of the show’s funniest running themes is Robinson’s explanation that all these famous voices live rent-free in her head. She imagines them chatting, interrupting one another and arguing over who gets to sing next, creating a wonderfully chaotic backstage dressing room inside her mind.
A particular highlight comes towards the end of the show when audience members have selected names of public figures and music stars, challenging Robinson to create an impromptu Elton John medley on the spot. Here her extraordinary musicality shines. Rather than simply mimicking voices, she seamlessly blends the Elton classic with the style of each artist to hilarious effect. Featuring 20 different voices, the rapid-fire sequence is a masterclass in improvisation and one of the biggest crowd pleasers of the evening.
Throughout the show, Robinson’s affection for Elton John’s music is unmistakable as she shares stories about the songs she loves most, making this feel like a heartfelt tribute from a lifelong fan. She refers to each one as her favourite!
Alongside the comedy and music, Robinson also reveals a more personal side. Between songs she speaks movingly about her memoir, Life Is Rosi, inspired by the diaries of her German grandmother Rosi, who escaped Nazi persecution in 1938 and rebuilt her life in Britain. Robinson discovered that, decades apart, she and her grandmother had both kept diaries at the age of 23, inspiring an exploration of family, identity and the ties that connect generations.
Those reflections give the show unexpected emotional depth. Robinson speaks with warmth about her grandmother’s courage and resilience, reminding the audience of the importance of preserving family stories. For Jewish audiences especially, Rosi’s journey is a moving reminder of the lives rebuilt after the Holocaust.
This is a joyful celebration of Elton John’s music, an amazing display of vocal talent and improvisation, and a touching tribute to the remarkable Jewish grandmother whose diary inspired Robinson’s latest chapter as a storyteller.
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