Daniel O’Donnell Show

Kurt L Moore

You and I live in a world filled with strife, conflict, struggle, war, anger, bills, taxes and all the other things that make up life as we know it today.

Wouldn’t it be great to have an oasis or a utopia of lush green grass, flowers, peace, tranquility and serene calmness to go, to be at peace with ourselves and the world, even for a couple of hours? I have found that place. Let me tell you a little about it.

I have had people ask me what the Daniel O’Donnell Show was all about. I couldn’t tell them a thing about the show, because it was always sold out and I figured it did not need any help from me, as a reviewer of shows. However, curiosity got the best of me and I called Michelle at the Mickey Gilley Theater, to see if it were possible to review the show. Folks, tickets are tight for any of Daniel’s shows. Michelle finally managed to wrangle me two seats for the performance. I called Lady Kall, on very short notice and she said she would drive up and meet me at the theater. She did. By the time she got there, about 10 minutes before curtain time, she was out of breath from driving so hard.

I wanted to find out what all the fuss was about with Daniel O’Donnell. In the meantime, I enjoyed a show of excellent singing. That was it. No smoke, no mirrors, to tricks, no comedians in baggy pants telling about life in the hills of Missouri, no pre-show, no gimmicks, no nothing. Just perfect, on pitch and melodious singing. At first I was disappointed, then later, becoming accustomed to the tempo of the show, I settled back, relaxed and enjoyed it.

LADY: “Kurt, what other singer is out there doing these songs?”
KURT: “Lady, actually none. This guy sings everything from country to Irish lullabies. I have never heard that mixture before.”
LADY: “His performance takes you back to the older songs my parents listened to, when life was simpler. My dad and mom talk about that era quite a bit. That is why the audience is so comfortable and familiar with him. I’ll bet this takes you back to the songs of your youth.”
KURT: “Let’s not push the envelope.”
During intermission, I wandered about asking different persons in attendance, what was the draw to Daniel O’Donnell. Everyone, to a person, did not know the real draw to him. Also, to a person, I was told that the man was real, sincere, could remember who you were after meeting you only once and he has a special talent of making you feel as if you were the most important person in his life, when he is in your presence.
LADY: “The fans were telling me what a great entertainer he is. The fans just love him.”
Forty years ago, I was told that President John F. Kennedy, the prince of Camelot, had that same gift of making people feel special when in their company. But, on the other hand, President Clinton had a gift for remembering each person’s name. Go figure.
Daniel O’Donnell’s shows are sold out months in advance. He appeared on a PBS special a mere 18 months ago, and since then, as William Shakespeare in the “Merry Wives of Windsor,” wrote, “The world is mine oyster, which I with sword will open.” Daniel has a big oyster and an even bigger sword. There were people there who traveled afar to attend the show I was at. They also attended nearly every show O’Donnell put on. They were going to stay to attend other O’Donnell shows in the coming week. I had a little trouble understanding the logic to it. Little wonder, there is absolutely NO logic to it.
LADY: “By the way, what did you think of Mary Duff?”
KURT: “Mary has traveled with him and sang at his performances for 16 years. I like her style, also taking one back to simpler days, salad days, days of yore.”
O.K., I admit it’s true that he is sincere, humble, a nice guy and sings on top of his game. There are a few nice guys around who sing reasonably well and they certainly do not have the following this guys has. I just didn’t get it!
But get this. There are people, busloads of them, coming from Ireland. They are coming to see his show here in Branson. Are you with me so far? Those people are coming from Ireland because they cannot get tickets in Ireland for his shows there. All the shows are completely sold out.
Alright, the best is yet to come. Next year The Daniel O’Donnell Show is moving from the Mickey Gilley Theater to one of the largest theaters in Missouri, the old Mel Tillis Theater, out on highway 248. If memory serves me correctly, the theater in question has around 2200 seats, opposed to the 999 in Mickey’s theater. Yet, as of the date I am writing this, 25,000 tickets have already been sold. To put it another way, 60 percent of his entire Branson stay for 2004 has already been sold.
LADY: “Did you know these fans buy not only one show ticket, but one for each day they are here? Then they buy a year in advance.”
KURT: “There is not an entertainer in this world who would not like to know his formula.”
After the show, we went backstage to talk to Daniel O’Donnell. My main question for him was, why do you think this mania over you is occurring? Honestly folks, Daniel is a truly nice guy not given to blowing his own horn. I honestly believe he had no idea why it was happening. He just remarked that he was extremely thankful it happened. He should be.
I do not believe the man is out for riches, glory or fame. I think he got caught up in something much larger than himself, just by doing what he loves to do, sing. Daniel will give any size audience every bit of himself. During our time at the show, he sang for two hours and twenty minutes. Most performers in Branson will entertain for ninety or 105 minutes. O’Donnell performed for 180 minutes. He certainly believes in giving the people their money’s worth.
LADY: “The audience sure got into it, with all those ladies passing up notes and presents.”
KURT: “He took the time for each and every person who went up to the stage to give him something. That is a gift.”
LADY: “It reminds me of the Elvis performances I’ve seen on TV.”
I, in all my memory, can only recall three instances of mania to rival the O’Donnell mania. The first would have been Elvis Presley, the second, The Beatles and the third the Osmonds. O’Donnell-Mania has taken root and from what I can see, will not be uprooted any time in the near future. Daniel O’Donnell has a bright and promising future ahead of him.

Then, like a still small voice one hears from time to time, it dawned on me. Now I can tell you Daniel O’Donnell’s secret. He creates the ultimate lush green meadow like utopia for anyone attending his show. Calmness and serenity abound as he sings everything from country western and American oldies, to the Irish songs of his youth. Daniel O’Donnell is completely himself at all times. People are extremely comfortable in that type of atmosphere. He does have a rare gift of making anyone in his presence completely comfortable with him, them selves and the world at large. When you enter his performing theater, you leave the world, with all it’s ills and tribulations, behind and find yourself in a world of peace and tranquility for about three hours. How many people throughout the world would like to have that experience? That is why people travel around the world to see this man. Daniel’s talent is top drawer, but that is not the only draw. Daniel brings to each show a feeling of times past. When a man’s handshake was his bond and honor was not simply a lip-service word. He gives us a time and a place we all want to go back to.

Fortunately, all of this mania, leading to mega-success has not gone to his head. He is just as nice, humble and thankful as a hobo being served a fresh baked apple pie. The world is now Daniel’s apple pie and he is thankful for every bite.

So, weary traveler on life’s roads, if you can possibly manage to get a ticket to the Daniel O’Donnell Show you will be fortunate because you are about to enter a utopia you thought never existed.

KURT: “Well Lady, it is nice to know that nice guys do not always finish last.”
LADY: “I just wish I could find one.”

Branson Critic™

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