Lena review – stilted account of child star Zavaroni’s tragedy | Edinburgh festival 2023
She had everything: fame, fortune and barrels of talent. She was even set to be “the greatest singing talent since Cher”, says her manager in this new drama. But like so many other child stars, 70s singing sensation Lena Zavaroni’s life led to tragedy.
In Tim Whitnall’s play with songs, we race through Zavaroni’s rise to the heights of celebrity, beginning with her appearance at the age of 10 on TV talent show Opportunity Knocks, and then to her death at the age of 35. It is a tale of anorexia, stolen childhood and sorrow, but there is an unshakable sense of detachment about this production, directed by Paul Hendy.
Lena is played by Erin Armstrong, who nails the singer’s velvet vocals. The shape of this show, however, which uses commentary from Opportunity Knocks presenter Hughie Green (an all-smiles Jon Culshaw) as a framing device, extracts some of the pain from her story.
It is all a bit too knowing. The stage is set up as if for a flashy 70s TV show. There’s a live band for musical support, and a glitzy lit-up sign, and Green speaks into a microphone as he leads us through a series of flashbacks while also forecasting what will happen to Lena. Even her initial joy at finding stardom is tinged by reflective asides from her father (played touchingly by Alan McHugh), who says that he knew that her career had a bad taste all along.
Momentarily, the big belter hits such as Ma! He’s Making Eyes at Me add dazzle. Lena’s inner turmoil comes across in her numbers, and physically she looks weaker with each new tune. Her development through childhood, teenage years and adulthood is marked neatly with added gravitas in her voice. Armstrong is certainly a talent – and the supporting cast are strong too. But this is a pedestrian retelling that never quite makes your heart ache.
