by Jane Belden
"Bravo! Bravo! Encore Encore!" the crowd shouted as Nick Palance left the Stage.
He had just concluded a two hour concert to a stunned audience. It was a performance to remember. He brought us Opera, Broadway, Old classics, a remembrance of Mario Lanza singing "Be My Love", and he really got to me when he performed "You'll Never Walk Alone", one of my all time favorites. A special number was "Music of the Night" from "Phantom of the Opera" when Ariana Riter walked down the stairs with a candelabra to meet Nick on the stage.
Around 20 patrons returned on Saturday night for a repeat performance. Each night there were approximately 110 in the audience. A respectful attendance. Nick was backed by Violinist Anna Kostyuchek and accompanied on a baby grand by Vince Morton.
Nick told us later that he felt a special connection with the audience while he was performing. Vince agreed. This doesn't usually happen for them because most theater layouts are such as promote separation between the audience and the artist and the artist doesn't get the chance to have personal communication with the audience while he is performing. Nick always makes a special effort to go into the audience during at least one number to have this interaction so Friday night when I worked in the light booth I was instructed to bring the house lights up so he can see the faces. I found it interesting that Nick said he felt that interaction with the audience from the beginning of the concert. I think the audience was so hungry for what he had to offer that the essence of desire permeated the theater. Saturday night when I was in the audience I could feel it all around me. Excitement is catching and his voice was exciting. They all loved Weaverville and if you didn't get a chance to see this concert perhaps The Trinity Players will be able to book them for a return visit at the Performing Arts Center in the 2007 or 2008 season if encouraged to do so.
Reprinted courtesy of the Trinity Journal