From the heart
Cabaret singer Rick Lau was inspired by superstar Barry Manilow, but he’s happy his own shows are on a more intimate scale, writes Vanessa Yung
EVERY ARTIST HAS A source of inspiration, and cabaret singer Rick Lau Wing-fung found his in Barry Manilow. The 43-year-old said he first saw the American singer-songwriter performing on television and was amazed. “I had no idea who this guy with long hair, platform shoes and flared pants was. But I found him really interesting – he sang well, and all the women were screaming at him. I remember thinking that I wanted to be like him – to be on stage, with people cheering at me.”
Lau may not be as big a star as Manilow, but he does have hordes of fans who cheer him on at his solo performances. His latest show, My Queer Valentine, was first staged during the Fringe Club’s City Festival in 2009.
The cabaret explores how gay men and women see themselves and the world, through songs by musicians, composers and lyricist such as Jerry Herman, Kander and Ebb, Lorenz Hart, Cole Porter, Rufus Wainwright and Danny Chan.
“Straight people can also relate to this show,” says Lau. “One of the reasons I’ve come up with this cabaret is to show that [our life experiences are] actually the same. Everything is universal – heartbreak and insecurity are all part of human nature. We’ve all been through that.”
There have been several runs of My Queer Valentine, including 24 shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival , and five in London’s West End in 2009. Lau is bringing the show back once more to coincide with Pink Season, Hong Kong’s LGBT festival. The idea is to celebrate the rapid improvement in gay rights and marriage equality, he says.
New tracks have been added to the set list, so there are now 14 songs instead of 12. Shows are minimalistic, as Lau wants the audience to mine their imaginations while he sings songs that take them on different kinds of journeys.