Donny Osmond brings some Vegas showbiz to Yorkshire on a wet Sunday night in Leeds

★★★★☆ (4/5)

DONNY OSMOND PERFORMING AT LEEDS FIRST DIRECT ARENA
PHOTOCREDIT: JOHN HAYHURST @SNAPAGIG.COM

Tonight thousands of ladies of a certain age get to reminisce about those halcyon days in the 70’s when they had cut out posters from Jackie magazine on their bedroom walls and the latest vinyl 45 from a band of brothers from the USA that were pure fantasy. The Osmonds vs The Jacksons was a rivalry that long preceded Oasis and Blur, in fact the Gallagher brothers were probably still in nappys when Donny Osmond was crooning ‘Puppy Love’ on the TV.

Fresh from his residency in Las Vegas Donny brings all that showbiz to a Leeds stage, with a full band in the shadows at the back, and a dance troupe full of fizz and energy to keep him on his toes. An icon in the world of entertainment, he graced the stage with a presence that can only come from a lifetime of performing, he’s the enigmatic showman from start to finish.

Dressed in a stylish ensemble of sparkly suit and black shirt, he exuded charisma and humility, instantly connecting with everyone here. The opening notes of ‘Soldier of Love’ and then ‘Sacred Emotion’ set the tone for a musical journey that would traverse the breadth of his illustrious career.

He showcases his latest album 'Start Again' of course, because tonight is still about selling some new product, but he plays “All The Hits”, and I mean everything you can think of – turning into Joseph for ‘Close Every Door To Me’ and even ’I'll Make A Man Out Of You’ from Disney’s ‘Mulan’ or ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me’ from ‘Toy Story’.

Easily moving from genre to genre whether that might be a musical, jazz, American Songbook classics like ‘Moon River’ or even Rock’n’Roll – busting out The Osmonds ‘Crazy Horses’ for any of the husbands/taxi drivers in here tonight. Although I have to say the 8minute rap section was as cheesy as you can imagine, but this audience of 50+ something ladies lapped it up like a Full House on Bingo night.

As the night progressed, Donny took a moment to reflect on his journey, sharing anecdotes and humorous stories that added a personal touch to the evening – even if they are probably similar at each venue on this short UK Tour, they did feel genuine and really helped forge that connection with the audience making the cavern like arena into an intimate space where fans felt like they were sharing in a private conversation with a friend.

Whilst it was an all-seater at Leeds, there were plenty prepared to get up and shake a leg for the likes of ‘Crazy Horses’, ‘Puppy Love’, and ‘One Bad Apple’ the memories of Saturday morning cartoons showcasing those tunes came flooding back.

Donny remains the slick professional showman, a truly seasoned entertainer, he is now well into his sixties and time has been kind to him (with a few medical enhancements) and the vocals are now an octave or two lower, but with a much smoother and richer tone.

This was a masterclass in entertainment, and one that his fans of some 50 years will remember for years to come. In an era marked by fleeting trends and ephemeral fame, Donny Osmond's performance tonight stood as a testament to the enduring power of a true entertainer..