Presented by Happy Days Records
Reviewed 24 August 2013
The Buddy and Roy referred to in the title Buddy ‘n’ Roy: Together and Alone are Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison – quite possibly the Justin Biebers of the Baby Boomer generation. These two performers WERE Rock ‘n’ Roll in the late fifties/ early sixties, and their songs and performances still thrive today in the twenty-first century.
This show is presented as basically two separate acts: Orbison (Jon Nicholson) as the first half; Holly (Scott Cameron) as the second. All their big hits are featured: Running Scared, Only the Lonely, Crying and (of course) Pretty Woman for the Orbison set; Maybe, Baby, It Doesn’t Matter Anymore, Oh, Boy and (again, of course) Peggy Sue – all backed by a great sounding three piece band.
Orbison and Holly were known not only for their hits, but for their energy, exuberance and enthusiasm for the Rock ‘n’ Roll genre, plus their wild guitar playing. Nicholson and Cameron channel all of these brilliantly in their performances, making us completely believe we are watching the one and only originals – Nicholson and Cameron ARE Orbison and Holly.
As Orbison, Nicholson is the more formal and mature of the Rockers, and it is amazing that this performer is apparently only 19 years old. If this young man is delivering this type of powerhouse performance now, imagine what he will bring when he’s older and more settled into show business.
Scott Cameron is certainly no stranger to ‘being’ Holly, having played him for four years in the hit musical Buddy: the Buddy Holly Story. Cameron is totally convincing as Holly, and thoroughly endearing.
Rock ‘n’ Roll will never die as long as these two very fine performers keep reminding us what other fine talents have gone before them.
Reviewed by Brian Godfrey
Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre, 58 Grote Street, Adelaide
Season: 24 August 2013
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