Watching Dale Burridge’s cabaret show At the Crossroads, you can’t help but wonder where on earth he’s been, and why we haven’t seen him in musicals of late.

The man who played Raoul in the original Australian production of The Phantom of the Opera, starring alongside Anthony Warlow and Marina Prior when it opened in Melbourne in 1990, has, in fact, not performed in a musical for over 25 years.

Dale Burridge. Photo supplied

At the Crossroads marks his return to the stage after two decades working as a concert and corporate entertainment producer. You might question what shape his voice is in after all that time, particularly as his short season at the Hayes Theatre had to be delayed by two weeks when he caught COVID. Well, he’s in remarkable voice. His tenor is rich and robust across his register, from a sure honied depth to soaring money notes. Not only does his voice have a gorgeous, warm tone but he sings with subtle nuance to convey emotion and drama. He also has stamina. The show (which runs two hours including an interval) is a big sing, with around...