Skip to content

The Piano Man—Going Strong at 81

I’m sitting among an audience of 80 people in Victoria’s Ambrosia Dinner Theatre, with a glass of white wine in front of me, waiting for the show to start. It’s my tenth time watching this show, and I’m happy that it’s a full house.

The lights dim, and people swing their chairs around to the stage, waiting for Bob to step into the lights. But that’s not what he does. Instead, a side door opens, and Bob enters at floor level. The audience sees him and begins to clap—I can tell this will be  a lively night, with an audience that is already eager and engaged.

One of the singers, Stan, comes around to help Bob up to the piano, which is elevated on a platform at the side of the stage.  This doesn’t surprise anyone, after all he is an elderly man—but they carry it further. Bob stands there, as if expecting more from Stan, and Stan complies. He reaches over to the script and turns it right side up. I can sense the audience reacting, “What the heck?”. Then Stan reaches over again and strikes the “F” note. Aaah, now they get it: It’s a Victor Borge take-off.

leblanc 027

Peter Jasmin photo

After all, this is Bob LeBlanc’s Variety Fare, and people can expect a mixture of humour, Broadway, music from the movies, and nostalgic songs from bygone days.

“Good evening, everyone,” Bob begins, “Thanks for coming. I’m sorry I’m late, but as I was coming down the hall, I thought I recognized a woman and I said, ‘Excuse me, but you look like Helen Brown.’ ‘Well’, she said in a huff, ‘You don’t look so hot in black, either!'”

Everyone laughs, and I shake my head,  How many times have I heard that? Yet it never fails to get a laugh!

Another corny joke or two, and Bob sits down and strikes a key. Suddenly the audience is surrounded with full-throated song as the performers walk out among them from the back, singing as they enter the stage,

“We’re doing a show for you tonight,

We’re doing a show and we’re doing it right.”

skirt2Bob knows what he is doing: he has set the stage for an exciting evening of music and the audience is on the edge of their seats.  They are not disappointed. The show rolls out with a rollicking first set, each song blending seamlessly with the next as the troupe reaches effortlessly for the notes that produce their perfect harmony, while maintaining the choreographed moves that make this show so entertaining.

These are seasoned, professional performers, with years of musical shows and stage plays to their credit. It shows— they don’t put a foot wrong, although later, they talk about a missed move here, or a false start there. I can never tell, they cover it so skillfully.

Bob has hand-picked these six singers. He has a talent for being able to match the voices to the song. He uses Stan’s deep base for songs that require authority and strength,  Timothy’s beautiful haunting baritone in romantic and pensive songs, Lisa’s bold soprano in pinning down that powerful solo. Duane is a master at a stunning solo as well, and can rivet an audience with songs that test the range of his thrilling tenor.  Merissa takes a song and weaves her  comedic and acting magic through it, all the while maintaining perfect pitch and volume. Variety Fare’s newest addition, Rebekah, has a strong soprano that matches her beauty and charm, and keeps the audience on its toes with the nuances of her expressions.

Bob is the anchor of the show. He has created the script, pacing its mixture of comedy and drama to ensure that not one dull moment, not one unnecessary pause, not one discordant note interrupts the flow of the overall theme and rapid pace.  His flawless sense of rhythm and timing allows him to take creative risks with the format of songs—pieces with a similar theme or beat become joint performances which sync up to create a beautiful and poignant sound. Music flows from one song to the next in a series of melodies which comprise the signature medleys he has developed through the years.

Bob is also the entire orchestra. When he begins to play, there is no doubt that this piano, this maestro, is the force that brings the cast, the songs, and the performance together. Bob’s style is unconventional—he plays only by ear, and the entire performance resides in his musical mind. With only a single sheet indicating the order of songs in front of him, he lays the rhythm down, and from there, song after song, the audience is captivated, moved, and entertained.

It is now halfway through the concert. Bob stands to do his short monologue about some of the songs about to be performed. He talks about the star writers of the early days of Broadway, how they collaborated, how their music came to be. At first I questioned this break in the show, although the audience is always interested. Now I realize why it has to be included. Bob has a troublesome muscle in his back—a half hour of playing and he has excruciating pain. Muscle relaxants don’t work, since he needs to be fully focused and alert. So he has developed a little “schtick”, a mixture of humour and teaching, which allows him to stand and relieve his sore muscles for a few minutes. Then its back, full force, into the show.

I go back to being immersed in the soaring harmonies, the dramatic solos, the colourful moves onstage. Before I know it, I hear the familiar thrum of “I’ve Got Rhythm”  And there they are, the full line, brandishing their top hats in their lilting final song:

“I’ve got rhythm, I’ve got music,

I’ve got my man, Who can ask for anything more?”

This is closing night. Bob and the singers line up, Broadway style, in the hall outside of the theatre, where adoring members of the audience hug them and compliment them. Bob and the cast all love this.

The last person leaves, and it’s lights out. The cast is young
—they file out, glowing from the success of the evening, and thinking about their next gig.  Bob is glowing too, since the show ended on such a high note.  We head for the car, dress shoes clicking on the pavement, formal clothes feeling a little uncomfortable now.  I don’t say it, but I’m sure Bob is thinking it—will there be another show?

37 thoughts on “The Piano Man—Going Strong at 81”

  1. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story. Soon to be 75, we still enjoy performing (line dancing for others less fortunate, those in Nursing homes, etc), and most of the time think we enjoy visiting with the audience after the performance more than our actual performance. We are only as old as we want to think we are. And at 75 and 77, still have a few more dances in us.

    1. Still the Lucky Few

      Thanks for that, Irwin. Bob takes a smaller performance to retirement homes in Victoria. He loves to bring happiness to people. He was given a huge talent, and feels he must share it for as long as he is able.

  2. What a beautiful piece of writing! You end with thoughts of whether this will be the last show/concert. We too often experience the ‘high notes’ in life without awareness that such events may not be repeated. Thanks for the reminder.

  3. Still the Lucky Few

    Bob and I are taking this one day at a time. He would love to continue doing shows, so we will see. Thanks for your compliment. I loved writing this!

  4. What a beautiful and loving tribute! It speaks volumes about the piano man, Variety, Fare, and the author.

    Ian

  5. Beautifully written by an adoring wife …. a true portrait of a man who has so often shared his talent with delighted neighbours and friends. Your gift of writing has done him proud! May you both continue to entertain our community.

  6. So beautifully written, Diane! What a loving tribute to Bob. He is a very talented man, and so lucky to have you by his side.

    1. Still the Lucky Few

      The easier thing would have been to have a video—wish I could have included one. Not this time, due to copyright issues, however. Thanks, Maggie, I always appreciate your insightful comments!

  7. We were fortunate to visit from Alberta for the main purpose to be at two of the concerts and were well entertained.
    Yes, Diane, I agree with Phyllis and Chris who expressed my very thoughts.

    1. Still the Lucky Few

      I will never forget the good time we had when you came to see the concerts. I have some wonderful pictures to prove it! Thanks, Ruby, for your very special response.

  8. Peter & Lorraine Jasmin

    What a fabulous tribute to a man who has brought joy and quality entertainment no matter what demographic his audience. And more than good wine, it’s like warmed soup from the day before; It’s even better the second time around. My wife and I have watched his Variety Fare several times and never get tired of it. A splendid tribute indeed to the creative talent of the Piano Man..

  9. I have been so fortunate to attend three of Bob ‘s shows. They just keep getting better and better. I hope you will continue sharing your talents with friends and the community.
    Diane, your writing is always so great, but this was fabulous !

  10. I have so enjoyed reading your wonderful tribute about Bob and Variety Fare, Diane.
    My friends and I have been very fortunate in being able to attend a few of Bob’s performances and shows. I have given up trying to sit still and not have my feet tapping to the music.
    I so agree with what you wrote about “taking this one day at a time”. I try and live by “today is the only day we have, so enjoy it”.
    Fingers crossed for a future performance by Bob and Variety Fare.

    1. Still the Lucky Few

      …a future performance by Bob certainly, possibly on a more modest platform. But who knows? It was all good! Thanks, Jeanette.

  11. What a wonderful tribute! My fellow is 80, almost 81 and is still engrossed in his projects up on the land. Things will no doubt change a lot in the next few (ten?) years, but we’re enjoying what time we have left. We certainly don’t fuss about trivial matters.

  12. Still the Lucky Few

    Let’s hope it’s ten years or more…I think having a passion is so important to longevity and well-being. Thank you for your comment!

  13. Lovely piece about ‘your man’ Diane. Sounds like he enjoys being there and also the reason for being there – that is providing pleasure for others. Long may he have that pleasure himself
    Cathy
    ps I added you to my blog list

  14. Thanks, Diane, for bringing back lots of wonderful memories and the very well written re-cap of this latest show. Bob’s tremendous talents are well known and respected on both coasts and it’s great to know that he is still sharing them with the world! I’m hopeful that there are many more shows in his future. Please tell him that all will be fine if he will just “Be careful out there!” Cheers to both of you!

  15. Still the Lucky Few

    I’ll tell him to “Be careful out there”, and he’ll know exactly what that means! Take care, Linda. Lovely to hear from you. Feel free to forward the blog to anyone who may be interested in reading that article.

  16. What a rich inner understanding you have of our talented and dynamic Bob. Only you could have written this touching and insightful piece, Diane. Thank you.

  17. Alan & Irene Tatnall

    Thank you Diane, for writing our thoughts so eloquently. Bob is a very gifted artist and you are a very gifted writer, and of course you are very lucky to have found each other
    Bob has indeed put together an excellent group of talented performers. Let’s
    hope we get to enjoy many more performances.

  18. What a lovely piece. I began to suspect you were writing about your husband…and sure enough. It was a wonderful tribute to him. Nicely done and fun to read.

    I’m so happy to have found your blog. I’m enjoying it tremendously. Thank you!

    1. Still the Lucky Few

      I didn’t think it was necessary to reveal who I was, but it came out anyway! Thanks for your comment. It was great to hear from you!

  19. Wow Diane … this doesn’t bring back wonderful memories or anything. It’s like our whole East coast experience transported to the West under the loving and talented direction of the one and only Bob LeBlanc. It could not be a more deserved tribute! It just goes to show that when love/passion is in your heart for something, time doesn’t mean a thing. Bob, I hope, will be doing this for years to come. And … if writing isn’t your passion, Diane, it should be!! We will always enjoy hearing about Bob’s and your successes. Love and miss you both!! Frances

    1. Hi Frannie, Bob and I just finished reading this touching comment. We often talk about how much Bob loved working with Variety Fare in Halifax, and how he misses the good times your group had! He says it can never be duplicated. Thanks for your compliment about my writing. I’m finally getting into it, after decades about talking about it, and doing nothing!

  20. Now that sounds like my kind of show; have you had Bob cloned? The world needs a lot more Bobs to rid it of the rubbish that passes for music and entertainment these days!

    1. Still the Lucky Few

      I agree. He is an extraordinary pianist, and a great showman! New shows starting up this fall, but it’s a bit far for you to travel!

Comments are closed.

© 2024 Diane Dahli All Rights Reserved | WordPress site by Quadra Street Designs