Last night Marie Osmond returned to performing in the Donny & Marie show at Flamingo for the first time since her son’s tragic death. Still, this was for many tourists just a Tuesday in Vegas, and some entering the theater had no idea what an emotional night this was for Osmond.

The evening was a stunning and staggering tribute to a professionalism developed by Marie Osmond over decades of performing.  The show, on some level, may have been therapy for Osmond, but to an unaware audience member, the singing, dancing and Osmond bickering were fully displayed. My guest (and accountant) totally enjoyed the performance; he had never seen Donny & Marie before and without the references from the stage or my telling him about changes in the show, he would have had no idea the night was unusual.

Of course, the night was unique. Among the items taken out, understandably, was a routine where Marie brings a fan onstage (usually an older man) for some harmless flirting, and jokes about her being single with a large number of children. There were other moments missing. As one expects from siblings, onstage the Osmond show is usually filled references to family.  Some of those were omitted. The body language between the two was also entirely different than usual with Donny often reaching over to touch or put an arm on his sister. Much of Marie Osmond’s solo spot was reduced and the star’s voice could be heard to crack a few times. And, yet she gave her audience the Osmond smile (even if she had to turn a few times to compose herself) and her best effort performing throughout. The show was not a banal staged triumph over grief; this was clearly a first step for her, and one she handled with incredible dignity.

The emotional center was Osmond’s operatic section. If her voice did not soar as usual, she hit her notes, held her poise and sang through whatever her pain.  All I could think: “That is one strong woman.” I doubt there were many in the audience who did not tear up at least once.

Osmond’s emotional address to the audience upon taking the stage can be heard exclusively here. In part, Osmond  tells fans “The way Osmonds survive is we keep singing and that’s what we want to do tonight…I know my son would want that.”

When the show was over, Donny Osmond sent out a Tweet that was a perfect summary of the evening:

“I admire my sister. She was back on stage tonight. Did a great job, and made it through the show.”

Note: I was asked by Flamingo staff at the theater to turn off my digital tape recorder. I respected that wish. The audio linked above comes from an entirely different source recording.

(Photo: Sarah Gerke)