Princesses of Pop

Princesses of Pop

Created and performed by Nikki Bennett

Touring Australia

Reviewed by Ron Lee, CSP

If you’re honouring in words, music and songs, the three most influential, talented and loved female singers in Australian musical history, you had better be on your game.

Nikki Bennett has decided to take on Judith Durham, Helen Reddy and Olivia Newton-John.

Her affection and respect for these icons is clear from the opening.

When Bennett enters with long hair over one shoulder, and musicians with twelve string and six string acoustic guitars and a double bass accompany her to the stage, we know that it’s time for Judith Durham. Between A World of Our Own, Mornington Ride, I’ll Never Find Another You, Georgy Girl and The Carnival is Over, we learn some interesting details. I didn't know that Judith Durham was born Judith Mavis Cock.

The second set is Helen Reddy. Bennett has been performing her stage show, Invincible - The Helen Reddy Story for years and she has Reddy’s movements, vocal style, intonations, emotions and attitude absolutely nailed. Delta Dawn, You and Me Against The World, Ain’t No Way to Treat a Lady, Angie Baby, I Don’t Know How to Love Him and of course I Am Woman are all there with some others, and Bennett’s voice is actually more powerful than Helen Reddy’s was. The ups and downs of Reddy’s life and career are enthralling.

Then came Olivia Newton-John. It would have been hard to reduce Olivia’s hits to a third of a show, but Nikki Bennett performed Let Me Be There, Peter Allen’s I Honestly Love You, Physical, Xanadu, a set from Grease and others. Her rendition of Hopelessly Devoted to You completely slayed me. It absolutely soared.

Apart from her amazing vocals, Nikki Bennett is a brilliant story teller. Audience members audibly reacted to some of the biographical bits. It was all so interesting.

The obviously experienced five-piece band, led by a masterful musical director, sounds bigger than it is.

If you want to see and hear the songs and stories of three legends performed and told superbly, look out for Princesses of Pop. You can find dates and venues here: https://www.nikkibennett.com/