Darren Criss @ City Recital Hall, Eora/Sydney – 11 September 2023

Darren Criss is undeniably one of Glee’s true success stories. While some cast members have been taken too soon, had their legacies marred by scandals, or faded into obscurity, his star has continued to rise after Ryan Murphy’s teen musical juggernaut. He’s starred on Broadway, performed for President Barack Obama on his second inauguration, and earned an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his role in The Assassination of Gianni Versace. He’s released a couple of EPs of original material and a Christmas album to little fanfare, but you wouldn’t know it if you were anywhere near the City Recital Theatre on Monday night. The sold-out crowd gave him a rock star welcome, the kind reserved for chart-toppers. He repaid their kindness with one of the most entertaining nights of music I’ve experienced in a while.

I must admit, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this show, but it certainly wasn’t Darren busting out a cover of Jet’s “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?”, then backing it up with The Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited” to whip this already excited crowd into a frenzy. The high-energy numbers worked their magic, letting us all know we were in for a party.

The set was an eclectic one celebrating Darren’s career. But that career has been nothing if not eclectic. His original music never stays in the same space for too long. I must admit, I didn’t do my homework and immerse myself in it fully before the gig, but I’m making up for lost time now because I was so impressed. There was a little jazz, some acoustic folk, a dash of new wave, and some straight-up rock.

I discovered Darren through Glee, so I was thrilled to hear he still loves singing the songs from that program that really broke through. He gave songs like “Teenage Dream” and “Somewhere Only We Know” every bit as much enthusiasm as he did his originals, and we lapped it up. I was especially excited to hear him perform “Cough Syrup,” perhaps my favourite cover from his time on “Glee.” It was every bit as good as I hoped for.

My husband became a Darren Criss fan much earlier than me, when he stumbled on A Very Harry Potter Musical on YouTube. He fanboyed hard seeing StarKid alum Joey Richter and Lauren Lopez on back-up vocals, but things went to the next level when they brought us songs from that musical like “Granger Danger” and “Harry Freakin’ Potter”. He said to me later that to be in a space with so many people that share this very obscure musical passion was an experience like no other.

And then there were the real surprises. You could have knocked me down with a feather when I heard the unmistakeable opening notes of “Straight Lines” by our own Silverchair. His slowed-down version of Carole King’s “One Fine Day” was exquisite. And just when I thought I couldn’t love the show more, he played one of my very favourite songs, Ben Folds’ “The Luckiest.” Looking at the set lists, the first Sydney show was the only night this made an appearance. What a lucky audience we were.

I also feel lucky to have experienced Darren perform a show like this, in a theatre as small as the City Recital Hall. While he aspires to play the Opera House next time, he clearly relished the opportunity to connect with the audience that such an intimate room provides. It allowed him to compliment the snappy dresser a few rows from the front and chat to Jay, who was dragged along to the show by his enthusiastic girlfriend. Darren created one of the most inclusive spaces I’ve ever been in, where young and old and all colours of the rainbow flag are welcome. As I looked at the people around me as we made our way out of the theatre, I felt confident every one of them had as much fun as I did. And every one of them is likely to return when Darren inevitably plays the Opera House next time around.

Image source: own photos