Going into this cabaret, many may have no idea what Copla is. Going out, we understand not only its initial appeal but its echoing and prevailing impact. The show is a powerhouse led almost entirely by Dr Alejandro Postigo, who is accompanied at times by a steadfast violin player. He takes us through the history of Copla – a genre traditionally attributed to those on the outskirts of society, later to be adopted by Spain’s biggest divas.
Postigo offers a relaxed, fluid control of the crowd from the start. It doesn’t take long to see him truly shine with his powerful renditions of the songs that made him. Through archival footage, we get a picture of his own connection to the music as a gay man brought up in a society still scarred by dictatorship. We are shown his love for the powerful women who made him – Julie Andrews, Whitney Houston, Sara Montiel, as he works with the screen behind him as if it were another member of the cast.
Subsequently, we watch his own endless and desperate desire to be one of them rather than stuck “in between”. One does wonder where the big finish will land. Whilst it may be easy to end a show on the final note of a well-sung ballad, Postigo reels us back in once more and leaves us looking towards the future of Copla which is, ultimately, left in our hands.
Copla: A Spanish Cabaret, Assembly George Square Studios, until 24 August, 6.40pm