Yanik Gosselin’s solo show Brava: A Cabaret of Devotions is an intensely personal tribute to the women who have helped shape his musical life. It takes its cue from Peter Allen’s Quiet Please, There’s a Lady on Stage and takes us through the ways in which his two musical loving aunts and generations of musical theatre divas have shaped his musical journey with nary an opera singer or aria in sight, though the horrors of auditions get a look in.

Along the way we meet songs made famous by Liza Minelli, Audra McDonald, Julie Wislon, Judy Garland and Olivia Newton-John. And how could a French-Canadian singer ignore Céline Dion? The show finishes up with a tribute to, and rather good imitation of Bette Midler.

Yanik sings their songs quite beautifully and idiomatically, with engaging narration and lots of vivid physical movement. This guy can move and really gets the MT idiom so it came as no surprise when I looked up his background and spotted McGill in it. That school just seems to know how to turn out singer/actors who can cover all the bases!

The show is enhanced by Benjamin Kersey on keyboard and Mabel Wonnacott’s atmospheric lighting. The show runs until July 12th at Soulpepper Theatre’s Kevin & Roger Garland Cabaret as part of the Fringe

Photo credits: Matt Hertendy