Broadway Diva directed by Carly Fisher Review by That Guy In The Foyer, John Doherty ★★★★1/2 Presented by Theatre Travels & Olivia Ruggiero Holden Street Theatres - The Barbara Hardy Garden 21-23 Feb at 7PM, Multi award winning Olivia Ruggerio is a “diva” in the best possible way! She and similarly multi – awarded director Carly Fisher have created a production of show stopping “ear-worms” from the world of Musical Theatre and Opera that is utterly entrancing, not a mean feat when the temperature is 40°! And I should mention I had goose-bumps many times! The intimate courtyard suits this soiree style performance very well, and Ruggerio is personable and engaging as she narrates her journey “in this crazy business,” seamlessly slipping into character for each song. And that really is the key to the success of this show. Broadway Diva is not merely a singer singing great songs, but a very fine performer utterly inhabiting the songs. And then, of course, the songs! I am not, I regret to confess, a Musical Theatre aficionado. However, there were only two or three songs I was not familiar with which mattered not a jot, they were so well performed. “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” (Jesus Christ Superstar) brought tears to this cynics eyes, as did “Dreamed A Dream (Les Miserable) “Everything I Know ( In The Heights ) , dedicated to Ruggerio’s late Grandmother nearly had me sobbing! I don’t believe I was alone in this! Can’t Help Loving Dat Man” (Showboat), “Somebody Somewhere” and “O Mio Babbino Caro” (Gianni Schicchi by Puccini) were among the songs that gave free rein to Ruggerio’s virtuosity. “Girl in 4G” (Credit: Jeanine Tesori) brought a great deal of humour toward the close of the show. Accompanist Thomas’ Saunders CV is impressive and his playing certainly reflected that The PA System was, occasionally, a little peaky, but that’s a minor issue. Perhaps it was the heat! This is Carly Fishers first script and it works very well! Young or old, or somewhere in between, if you’re a lover of great singing, Musical Theatre and the occasional Opera you will love this show! I did!