Judi Dench and 'Send in the Clowns'

During my bus journey home last night, I listened to Dame Judi Dench singing 'Send in the Clowns', which was one of the 'acts' for Cameron Mackintosh's tribute event, "Hey, Mr Producer!" at the Lyceum Theatre a few years ago. She played Desiree in Sondheim's 'A Little Night Music' at the National Theatre some years ago, but I didn't see it, because I hadn't moved to London at that stage. It's a heart-breaking rendition - full of anger, regret and bitterness - and it knocks you for six. The Lyceum audience's applause is deafening.

Dame Judi has also sung the song at the Royal Albert Hall for 'The Proms' and a few years earlier, she went on Alan Titchmarsh's daytime show to promote her appearance at the NT.

I've included the links below to the Alan Titchmarsh show, Cameron Mackintosh tribute and 'Proms' show. They're all fantastic, but the Titchmarsh show rendition rips your heart out.  And a final caveat for the critics - it's not meant to be sung perfectly, because you lose the raw emotion. One of the reviewers on YouTube said that you need to live the song, rather than sing it - and that's spot-on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rEhOnd8S-8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE3dLzIYKs8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvZex3Qf7QQ