Some films are guaranteed to take us on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. They can sometimes be a tough watch, but still we put ourselves through it. While I wouldn’t describe ‘The Great Escaper’ quite this kind of film, I would say that it will make you smile, laugh and cry…possibly all at the same time!
Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson star as Bernie and Rene, war time sweethearts who made it through Bernie’s service during World War II before getting married and living their happily ever after. But the ravages of time catch up with all of us and now Rene is in a nursing home with Bernie still living with her after refusing to leave her side.
Based on a true story, the film is a love story with a twist. So yes, you’ll be heartened by Bernie and Rene’s devotion to each, before ‘The Great Escaper’ lives up to its name as ex-Royal Navy man Bernie sets off on one last mission to bury the ghosts of the past.
Bernie is determined to attend the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of D Day. So, when he can’t get a ticket for an organised tour, he sets off to France alone, with only Rene aware of his whereabouts. On his way there he’s befriended by Arthur, another veteran. Both have unfinished business in France and both are still haunted by their military past.
Touching on issues such as ageing and mental health, ‘The Great Escaper’ is a fantastically refreshing watch. Caine and Jackson are superb as Bernie and Rene and the film reveals a lot about the trauma, despair and heartache that veterans go through as well as the harsh realities of ageing. But there’s a light hearted side to the film too, as we will Bernie to make it out to France and then sit back, smile and enjoy his new found celebrity status upon his return.
If you enjoy a heart warming love story with a bit of a difference, then you’ll enjoy ‘The Great Escaper’ and if you have an interest in anything to do with World War II then it will also appeal. Overall, it’s a fascinating tale with a hearty serving of laughs thrown in too.
A gorgeous summer night in Calderdale sees the realisation of a bit of a musical dream of mine. I’ve wanted to see The Flaming Lips for ages, but circumstances have always gotten in the way until now. Suffice to say, as we park up and wander to the venue I’m more than a little bit excited for what’s about to happen.
The whole thing is almost a non starter though as we go through security. Regular readers will know that I’m fitted with a pacemaker, which also means no scanning at security. It’s usually no issue; just a word with the person in charge followed by a pat down. Tonight though, despite giving the usual pacemaker spiel and despite the security guys nods of understanding, when I put my arms up for a pat down, he starts to scan me instead! It briefly loiters over my pacemaker before I have to shout to make myself clear and am patted down! No damage done, but a definite numbness down my left arm and hand through the support act though! The perils of middle age gigging, eh?
I’m not too familiar with tonight’s support, The Beta Band and only have a vague awareness of their sound. However, their set tonight is a wonderful surprise. A multi instrumental, infectious pyschedelic groove for the whole time and a performance that will stay with me as well as giving me a kick up the arse into exploring that back catalogue. Stuart Murdoch is a brilliant frontman and the band are obviously enjoying themselves tonight. But to the casual observer like me, it’s the music that does the job with ‘Dry The Rain’ and ‘She’s The One’ really standing out. All in all, if I wasn’t sure at the start, I’m a total convert by the end of the set.
While the stage is being prepped for The Flaming Lips, there’s plenty of intrigue. I know that this will be a visual feast of a show, so spotting the giant balloons being stored behind the screen makes me smile. But then, there are a number of items being dragged onstage that pique my interest, several appearing to be huge pink tarpaulins which will delight everyone watching a short while later. There’s even a glimpse of singer Wayne Coyne waving from the side of the stage at one point, which helps to whet the appetite just a little bit more.
And then, there they are; no great fuss, but a visual treat alongside some truly excellent tunes – finally, The Flaming Lips!
Opener ‘The Stars Are So Big…I Am So Small…Do I Stand a Chance?’ eases us into tonight’s feast for the senses before fan favourite ‘Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt1 and Pt2’ hits and it feels like the whole place has been lifted off its feet by this bunch of blokes from Oklahoma. Before we know it there are four enormous inflatable pink robots dwarfing everything in sight while a giant singalong party ensues. If anyone needed a pick me up, the Lips seem intent on delivering.
In the trio of songs that follow, ‘The Spark That Bled’ stands out while the visuals continue at pace, making this already a memorable evening. Coyne is in good form, thankful for the sunshine, the venue and the crowd who he encourages to keep screaming their support throughout.
‘The Golden Path’ recorded in 2003 with the Chemical Brothers really picks up the pace before something quite remarkable happens. Introducing new song ‘Every Teardrop Cried’ Coyne breaks down in tears revealing that his older brother died a week ago and that he hasn’t been able to get home. What follows is a beautiful tearjerker of a song and I swear every member of the audience is just willing Coyne to get through it.
Then, shaking off the grief, the band rip through crowd favourite ‘She Don’t Use Jelly’ and the whole place is just a riot of colour, dancing and at the risk of sounding like a raging hippy…love. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so relaxed at a gig.
A brilliant ‘Five Stop Mother Superior Rain’ is up next followed by a brilliantly timed ‘It’s Summertime’, the line ‘look outside, I know that you’ll recognise it’s summertime‘ really resonating just as the blue of the Halifax sky darkens and the lights and lasers shift up a gear. Wonderful stuff.
Coyne gives us the chance at some audience participation with a brilliant version of ‘The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song’ complete with giant balloons being flung into the crowd to add to the euphoria, before it’s left to the stunning ‘Do You Realise??’ to close the show. As the remaining balloons continue to be pinged left, right and centre we also have an inflatable rainbow onstage because, as you’d expect, the band always bring their own rainbow.
After a brief interlude the band come back onstage to a fabulous reception and fly through a brilliant version of Black Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’ before closing the night with a truly rapturous ‘Race For The Prize’.
Tonight, with my son at my side for his first ever gig, I’ve fulfilled that musical dream sure enough, but The Flaming Lips have given us much, much more. Some superb music and an evening’s entertainment that will live long in the memory. I mean who else plays such euphoric tunes under their own rainbow? Who else could prompt a riotously friendly game of musical volleyball among a few thousand people in a Grade 1 listed Georgian Cloth Hall? And who else lends you a treasure like Wayne Coyne for an hour and a half, just so you can have a bit of a dance with a load of strangers and people on stage dressed as the sun?
At a time when almost everything seems to cause anger and disappointment, the world doesn’t know just how much it needs The Flaming Lips.
Never did I imagine that I’d laugh quite so much at someone doing an impression of their English teacher repeatedly shouting the name “Carly” and yet it’s at that moment of Show Pony that I realise I’ve lost control somewhat. Every time he says it I laugh louder and harder and the longer it goes on the more my face contorts and the more the tears flow. Welcome to the quite wonderful world of Mr. Swallow.
For the uninitiated, Mr. Swallow is the creation of Nick Mohammed, he of Intelligence, Ted Lasso and The Traitors fame. More importantly though, tonight he’s like nothing you’ll have ever witnessed before, making the night an absolute treat!
While there are belly laughs from minute one, tonight’s show starts in a very different fashion as Mr. Swallow takes to the stage wearing rather subdued knitwear and introducing a section on Lego and the sets he’s discovered that have an 18 age rating. Every day’s a school day, eh? Well here’s another lesson; don’t dare attempt to buy a Lego Coliseum if you’re 17 or under!
What follows is a kind of potted history of his career so far from his drama training in Leeds…at Asda, right through to his short lived take on ‘A Christmas Carol’ in the West End, along with the reference to his media awarded and totally false South East Asian status, all of which draws much laughter from the Leeds crowd. And then, unexpectedly it’s time for the support act, followed by an interval. But you know what, if Mr. Swallow wants to go on before and after his support, who are we to argue?
Support tonight is provided by French-Algerian stand up Celya AB who while undoubtedly funny, is a real change of pace and a contrast to Mr. Swallow. Still, there are notable moments here; some observations about Australia that are really clever and some interaction with the audience which seems to spark an ‘I’m Spartacus’ style outbreak of blokes purporting to be called Tim in the audience, which turns out to be very funny. In all, a solid half hour of something very different, which on reflection might just be the perfect way to split up two helpings of what we’re all here to see.
After a short interval Mr. Swallow returns, resplendent in a gold sparkly blazer and an added soupcon of style provided by, as he points out, “shoes with tassles on”. And now the stage is set out kind of like a classroom and we’re regaled with the tale of the character’s origins; his old English teacher who it seems can reduce hundreds in the audience to mush just by repeatedly shouting “Carly”!
What follows is part magic show, part cabaret and some brilliantly observed stories from how not to start a GCSE English exam to a particularly painful casting meeting that definitely wasn’t with the BBC! It’s all gloriously deranged and chaotic.
One of those stylish tassly slip ons is dispatched twice as Swallow shows us his perfectly white feet and then, later on, tells us how his English teacher would hog the limelight and bag herself all the parts while the class read Romeo and Juliet (or Romeo and Janine as it’s dubbed tonight).
There’s also some audience participation, firstly with a subtly brilliant Rubik’s Cube trick, then a similarly excellent card trick and finally a little bit of lie detectoring, which I’m sure isn’t the correct technical term for what happens, but involves five eager members of tonight’s audience trying to fool our host.
There’s also a little bit of subtle social commentary thanks to a broadcaster – that again, is definitely not the BBC – and its diversity policy. And although it’s very funny, there are times when it almost feels like it might not quite be ok to laugh…but they turn out to be absolutely hilarious anyway! If only Mr. Swallow was in possession of two vastly different coloured feet things could be oh so different and he might well be working on a sitcom. As it is, it turns out he’s not quite diverse enough!
The final section of the show is dedicated to Mr. Swallow’s part in the 2024 BAFTAs. The whole thing didn’t quite work on the night and yet it’s turned into just another brilliantly funny section tonight complete with stills from the broadcast on the big screen. It makes for a superb climax to the show and as it’s finished with there’s only one thing for it; Mr. Swallow dismisses us in typical quirky English teacher fashion.
He leaves the stage to a thoroughly well deserved standing ovation. Clearly, it’s Mr. Swallow’s world and we’re all just privileged to have a a bloody good view!
I give Mr. Swallow an almost too predictable…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
And if you’re interested, tonight’s show was being filmed, so you’ll all get the chance to see exactly what I mean when I say that it was easily the funniest thing I’ve seen in years and understand why I left the theatre with a face that ached from laughing.
It’s a widely held belief that ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ is one of the greatest, if not the greatest film of all time. And of course, the film was borne out of the brilliant Stephen King’s novella, ‘Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption’. So, when I was given tickets for a theatre adaptation for my birthday I was both intrigued and excited.
Andy Dufresne’s story is well known. Wrongly imprisoned in one of America’s worst jails for the double murder of his wife and her lover, he gradually adapts to life inside, gaining friends and respect along the way. And while he’s there he fights the bullying and injustice that he finds, using kindness and common sense wherever possible and all the while slowly forming a plan to escape.
Given the performances of Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman in the lead roles in the film, the actors here on stage are firmly in focus and obviously have a tough act to follow. However, Dufresne is portrayed brilliantly by Scottish actor Joe McFadden who captures Andy’s steely determination really well. And Ben Onwukwe is superb as Red, carrying the whole thing along with the narration that involves us, the audience, while tempering the sometimes traumatic events with a subtle humour.
Alongside McFadden and Onwukwe, Bill Ward is superbly menacing as the corrupt Warden Stammas while Sean Kingsley and Ashley D Gayle are excellent as bad guys The Sisters, both determined to make Andy’s life in jail even more of a hell. A special mention too for Kenneth Jay who at times steals the show as Brooksie, the library man.
The staging here is excellent relying on a basic portrayal of the inside of the jail and with subtle transitions and lighting changes bringing us to Andy’s cell, the Warden’s office or even the library that Andy has such a part in building up in his mission to get the prisoners an education.
Director David Esbjornson’s stage version manages to retain the sheer drama of the film, albeit in a much subtler form. And you can’t help but be dragged into Andy and Red’s world of simple humanity amongst the treachery that they are often subjected to within the prison system.
I was thoroughly engaged throughout this performance. Not difficult with such a brilliant story you might think, but it was very much the performances in front of me that made the whole thing so enjoyable. You’ll laugh at the dark humour and then within minutes find yourself raging at the injustice of Andy’s world. But of course, you’ll be smiling by the end. And what an ending! I’d wondered how this would be portrayed on stage and all I can say is that the subtlety and simplicity is where the beauty lies here.
‘Shawshank’ made for a fantastic afternoon’s entertainment and I’d thoroughly endorse a look if and when the play heads your way.
Finlay McIntosh is a target for bullies. First of all, he has a stutter which leaves him very low on confidence. But his stutter might as well come with a target on his back, such is the amount of negative attention that it draws to him. Life really isn’t much fun, especially since his mum left. But at least he has Scrabble. And when a mysterious online player gets in touch, it looks like things might be about to change for the better. Can Finlay find his mum? Could he become a Scrabble champion? Well, you’ll never know unless you read the book!
This is another cracking teen novel by Kim Slater. Covering themes such as bullying and loss, the book follows Finlay as he navigates life after his mother has left home, an event which only served to make his stutter even worse. Despite the bullies though, he discovers that some people do still care; the school librarian, Mrs Adams and her chess protégé, Maryam. Both take Finlay under their wing and help to build his confidence. But those school bullies still just won’t leave him alone.
‘A Seven Letter Word’ is a heartfelt and at times heart-breaking tale. Finlay still writes letters to his long lost mother – that he’s pretty sure she’ll never read – and is intent on tracking her down somehow. But he doesn’t have a clue where to start. And his relationship with his dad is at best functional. Essentially he has no one and if that doesn’t tug at your heart strings then you should probably check your pulse.
Kim Slater’s characters are excellently written. I felt like I could easily picture the likes of his saviours Maryam and Mrs Adams as well as his nemesis, bully Oliver. And the characters make the story all the more engaging, of course.
The story itself is fantastic as Finlay uses Scrabble to make a friend, avoid the bullies and ultimately to build some confidence. I found myself intrigued by the world of Scrabble competitions, which gave me a break from the standard ‘shy character fights bullies’ tales as well as a healthy dose of nostalgia and memories of sitting at home as a kid playing the game with my family and being desperate to hold my own as the youngest!
‘A Seven Letter Word’ is a classic underdog tale and you’ll find yourself rooting for Finlay all the way through. With themes like bullying, racism and the dangers of the internet there’s plenty to get your teeth into as well. In all, an excellent, engaging read that you really won’t want to end.
This was a book that I picked up at a charity shop in the town where I live. The cover grabbed my attention but the subject matter was also something that I thought I knew a bit about. And then I read the book and found out that I don’t know the half of it!
‘Young Soul Rebels’ is the story of northern soul, an incredible underground music scene with its roots in both the heartlands of industrial America as well as towns like Wigan and Stoke in Britain. Written by someone who quickly became obsessed with the music and the culture from the start of the scene it really is a fascinating read. Cosgrove is obsessive about the whole scene – as were many of its followers – and so the reader can be assured of the authenticity of every word.
If you don’t know, northern soul was basically American soul music that had been almost ignored in its homeland but was subsequently unearthed and worshipped by its followers in Britain.
The book details the rise of northern soul across mainly northern England, although its popularity also spread into the Midlands and as far as northern Scotland too, over time. And while there is a lot written about the kinds of club nights that you may have heard of, like Wigan Casino and the Twisted Wheel, it’s actually the sheer level of obsession that followers of the music displayed that is the real interest here.
Alongside the tales of northern soul Cosgrove also looks at the rise of certain drugs in our culture as well as the north south divide, the Thatcher years and all of the terrible times that they brought to northern Britain, making for a really interesting read.
However, it’s the focus on the music that makes this book so fascinating for me. Put it this way; if I thought I was serious about my music before I read this, the book and the tales of the obsessive nature of the followers of northern soul made me feel like an amateur. There are tales of record collectors travelling thousands of miles in search of records that they can’t even be sure exist anymore.
Cosgrove himself details his plan of action for tracking down rare records when he visits Washington DC, including planning day trips to nearby cities, cutting listings for places like thrift stores in said cities and then trying to appear like someone who’s just generally browsing so as not to potentially alert the storekeeper to the fact that you’re on the hunt for something valuable that they couldn’t possibly know about! He would even label the records he’d found with stuff like, ‘For educational purposes only – no value’ for going through airports in case he was called aside for a baggage search. I mean, I spent a lot of time in local record stores when I was younger but with nothing like a plan of action!
‘Young Soul Rebels’ is a fascinating read. The book takes you on a journey into a cultural phenomenon that most will have been unaware of; you may have heard of northern soul, Wigan Casino and the like, but will you have been aware of the dedication of those that have worshipped the music for decades? Probably not!
If you’re a music lover you may well have given thought to how you might get yourself a slice of that there scene, at some point. Growing up as an avid reader of the NME and Melody Maker, amongst other music based publications, writing for them was something I wondered how to do, but never dreamed that I’d be able to do it. I couldn’t play an instrument and would have been far too nervous a boy to give signing a go, so writing came in as a close second. But in those pre-internet days, and with only a school careers officer and the local library to rely on, I never worked out how to follow my dream and by the time I did, it was far too late.
Sylvia Patterson, on the other hand, found that music was among her only real interests and, force of nature that she seems to have been, found herself a job that would lead to her writing for the NME, not just reading it! And she’s been writing about music ever since.
‘I’m not with the band’ tells of her adventures in music in a career that, at the time of publication, had just gone beyond 30 years. As you’d imagine there’s lots of the expected hedonism of following bands and artists around. There are tons of tales of the somewhat anarchic and also juvenile things that happened when Silvia was a writer on the sadly missed Smash Hits. It seems that their motto was something like ‘either make it up, take the piss or both’ which sounds right up my street!
There’s also loads of really interesting stuff about big hitters like Madonna, the Manics, Prince, U2, Beyonce, New Order and Oasis and yet you’re often left with the reality that Patterson’s life as a writer isn’t at all as glamorous as you’d imagine. In fact, at times I was thankful for falling into being an English teacher just for the sake of my own safety and sanity! But then you read stuff about people like Black Grape and a notorious trip to the Caribbean to record a video, as well as Cypress Hill and Eminem it helps you to see that while life as a music writer isn’t glamorous, it’s rarely dull.
And ultimately, that’s the saddest part of this memoir. I’d set out into reading it thinking that meeting all of those musicians and following them round the world would be enormously fulfilling and glamorous. But it doesn’t seem to have been so for Patterson. The pay seems barely enough to get by on and the perks never really seem, well, perky enough. In fact our writer seems at her happiest just when taking the piss out of pop stars early on in her career at Smash Hits.
Patterson also details the decline of the music press as well as the closure of many magazines that we may well have read back in the day. The internet has a lot to answer for and part of it is that writers like Sylvia Patterson are forced to work as freelancers, surviving on scraps really. Again, not what we’d expect from someone who on the surface of things, seems to have the kind of job we’d all kill for.
‘I’m not with the band’ is a fantastic, illuminating read. For starters, it’s just very, very funny. But then there’s also a great deal of depth too. Patterson clearly thinks that music – and writing about it – is something life changing. And she’s right. And so the book is equal parts vibrant, honest and thoughtful. With tales of just anyone you could think of within the British music scene of the last 30 years, ‘I’m not with the band’ is a must read for all music lovers.
In our house, I know there’s going to be a good night when we have an early tea. Usually, we eat anywhere between 8 and 9pm – late, I know, but we’re very continental, don’t you know – but when we’re off out, it has to be early. And tonight, we’re off out to see Chris Ramsey in Halifax, which is about a 35 minute drive away, so it’s a case of wolfing down a pasta bake after work, getting ready and then out the door!
Support tonight is provided by Carl Hutchinson. Like Chris, he’s a Geordie and a very funny one at that. And it’s always great when the support act is worth watching, especially when it’s someone that you were previously unaware of.
Carl’s set centres around marriage and fatherhood and how basically, it’s ridiculously hard work. As a fellow dad, it’s a very relatable set and there’s lots to laugh about. There’s a particular bit about the instructions for flat pack furniture which really rings true!
There’s laughs from both of us when he’s discussing the peaks and troughs of marriage and children though and it feels particularly satisfying when Carl tells us about older parents looking at his toddler and telling him, ‘Enjoy her when she’s this age’! I’ve even said it myself very recently when I know that the truth is more than likely that you’re really not going to enjoy the sleepless night, the nappies and the copious amounts of kid vomit!
Hutchinson saves both the best and worst tale until last and the story of his traumatic holiday poo – yes, really – is both cringeworthy and absolutely hilarious at the same time. He’s touring in the autumn and I’d highly recommend him if you like a laugh.
After a twenty minute break it’s time for Chris Ramsey and he strides on amidst a load of dry ice, loud music and flashing lights. Some entrance, but one that his comedy will definitely live up to. And when he tells us early on that tonight’s show is packed with stuff he can’t talk about on his podcast we know we’re in for a night of juicy tales!
Like Hutchinson before him, Chris spends a lot of his time on stage talking about life as a husband and father, all with the underlying proviso that we remember ‘but I love them, couldn’t live without them…’ which only serves to make it all even funnier.
Ramsey has been very successful in the last few years as the podcast that he does with wife Rosie has really taken off. Coupled with his individual success it has led to the pair ‘moving up in the world’ or as Chris himself puts it, getting above our station. So the show looks at life as a husband and parent having moved out of his home town of South Shields and out to leafy Northumberland. There’s no arrogance and no side here, by the way, he’s just as personable and funny as ever about it all. In fact, he’s very open when he tells us that it just didn’t work out and that they’ve been dragged back down by the universe!
Stand out moments here include his ‘remodelling’ of the Northumberland house complete with some ducks who ended up taking a very disappointing holiday in his back garden after he’d filled in the pond. There are tales of wanting to fight other dads – Chris is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu while also being, in his own words, ‘soft as shite’ – as well as the sharp theatre wide intake of breath when he declares that being a dad is harder than being a mam! And it’s no surprise when I find my wife laughing harder than me at this particular section!
Ramsey also does a little bit about the difference between being a ‘mummy’ and being a ‘mam’ which, being a Geordie with a mam, has me laughing like a drain.
The second half of the set covers how his professional life also took a bit of a battering after appearances on Soccer AM – he was subsequently banned from the show for life! – This Morning with Phil and Holly, where him and Rosie were the last guests before the presenting team, shall we say, ‘changed’ and appearances on the Graham Norton Show alongside P Diddy and then Will Smith. If you have a think I’m sure you can work out why he feels he might just be cursed!
The show closes with the tale of that appearance on Graham Norton with Will Smith. Or at least it sort of does, because the appearance that we may have witnessed on TV was not quite how it actually went. But don’t worry, Chris’ management have a video of how it really went which absolutely brings the house down!
While an early tea hints at a good night to follow, in our house we also gauge how funny something is on a sliding scale. At the top end of that scale you’re either crying laughing or your face hurts from laughing. Or both. Tonight, Chris Ramsey is at the top of the scale from beginning to end and leaves the stage to a thoroughly well deserved standing ovation.
It’s bitterly cold and raining heavily on what it turns out is a chaotic night on the roads into Leeds City Centre. As a result, once we’re finally parked, it’s a mad dash across a couple of busy roads and through the theatre in order to just get sat down as the curtain goes up and the music begins to welcome us to the world of Dickens’ London.
On stage, there’s no rain but ‘snow’ is falling and while nothing is chaotic, there’s certainly an all action start to ‘A Christmas Carol’ with plenty going on in Scrooge’s factory. The song – and those that follow – is unexpected, but makes for not only a welcome surprise but an amazing start to the play.
Deborah MacAndrew’s adaptation of this festive favourite is excellent with the opening song and the neon ‘Scrooge and Marley’ sign the first hints that this will definitely be a move away from what we might call the traditional version of the tale. The show is absolutely joyful and a real feast for the senses that will leave you buzzing with festive cheer, not least because of the addition of some of the biggest, brightest and shall we say, interesting Christmas baubles that you’re ever likely to encounter!
As an English teacher, I know what I was expecting. There are only so many times you can read through the novella before you find that you can ‘hear’ the same voices and ‘see’ the same settings and having never seen ‘A Christmas Carol’ on the stage before I found this version more than a refreshing change. That said, when the Ghost of Christmas Carol didn’t sound like Brian Blessed my mind was temporarily blown! The ghosts though are all superb with Claudia Kariuki bringing a real sense of sparkle to the Ghost of Christmas present, while the presentation of the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come is quite stunning and might even feature in a few Christmas nightmares in the audience.
The play is set in Leeds and revolves around Scrooge and Marley’s factory in where the workforce toil in a permanent state of fear of their boss, Ebeneezer Scrooge. And then, when he’s visited by the ghost of his old business partner Jacob Marley, we’re taken on a familiar journey towards redemption as the three ghosts show Scrooge what he was, what he is and point him in the direction of what he perhaps should be.
The cast are superb throughout, making even scene changes and scenery shifting some kind of almost balletic event and there’s never a dull moment. Obioma Ugoala is a terrifying Jacob Marley – something else I wasn’t expecting – as well as an appropriately jolly and benevolent Fezziwig, throwing huge amounts of energy into both roles. Meanwhile Danny Colligan is perfect as Fred, the very antithesis of his uncle Ebeneezer. And a word too for Rosie Strobel who does an excellent job of scene stealing as a rather raucous Mrs. Dilber!
Reece Dinsdale is excellent as Scrooge, throwing around Bah Humbugs with an extra large helping of disdain. And then, when the ghosts start to exert their influence he’s appropriately vulnerable and shows signs of humanity that we don’t always associate with Scrooge before his redemption. A fitting performance for such a classic character.
Overall, ‘A Christmas Carol’ is nothing short of a triumph. A fast paced, festive production that will make you laugh, sing, clap along at times and maybe even shed a tear. Having not felt particularly festive going in, I came out pretty much full of Christmas cheer, which for me was about a fortnight early! A cracking Christmas production!
Saturday was a busy night for the Britpop revival in Manchester. Fresh from the success of recent Oasis support slots, Richard Ashcroft was crooning out his anthems at Co-Op Live. And meanwhile, far more refreshingly for us, The Bluetones were treating us to their indie pop joy at the Academy on the other side of town without a bucket hat in sight.
As ever the ‘Tones were on fine form and there was much to please a lively crowd.
First up though were The Supernaturals and a bit of a pleasant surprise for yours truly. I wasn’t a fan first time around and their hit ‘Smile’ left me doing anything but. Tonight though, I’m proved wrong – don’t worry, it’s a regular occurrence – as their set is excellent showing that the band have a depth that I’d never been aware of back in the day. The Manchester crowd are a little quiet to begin with, but it’s not long before we’re all enjoying ourselves. The set features stuff like the more upbeat ‘Smile’ and ‘The Day Before Yesterday’s Man’ but there’s also the more reflective ‘Don’t Let The Past Catch Up With You’. The highlight for me is the excellent ‘I Wasn’t Built To Get Up’ and all in all, The Supernaturals have definitely turned my head.
After a short break, our heroes The Bluetones emerge to a rapturous welcome. This tour comes on the back of some new releases, the most recent being the ‘London Weekend Television’ EP and there’s a healthy smattering of new stuff in amongst some well known classics, as well as one or two lesser known tracks. So, with a crowd made up of both Bluetones nerds like myself and my wife and folk out for a night of Bitpop nostalgia, frontman Mark makes a quick mock apology for the songs that some people won’t recognise.
But there’s nothing to apologise for as we kick off in well known territory with ‘Bluetonic’ and everybody’s singing along. It’s followed by the brilliant ‘New Athens’ and ‘Solomon Bites The Worm’ ensuring that it’s been a whirlwind start to proceedings. Last year’s single ‘Drive Thru’ – a bit of a personal favourite – follows before there’s a change of pace with ‘Keep The Home Fires Burning’. All killer so far, no matter what Mr. Morriss might be joking about!
In between songs, as ever, Mark is a master at working the crowd. Tonight, we’re jokingly told off for singing along with a stern ‘No!’, get the tale of how The Bluetones featured on both Bargain Hunt of all places and Sunday Brunch and hear of a time when Mark saw Duran Duran in America and their new songs turned what had been the best night of his life into the stuff of nightmares. There’s even an in gig band meeting when Mark tries to tell us about songs that are instantly known for their first chord strike while Adam insists on playing riffs. He was only talking about the first strike, mate!
Tonight, the new songs are well received and more than hold their own alongside the old hits that the ‘Tones are probably much more well known for among tonight’s crowd. Consequently, ‘The Aristocrats’, ‘Cheap Hotel’ and Madeline blend in seamlessly alongside ‘Cut Some Rug’ and ‘Slight Return’ because the truth is that these lads have never lost the knack of writing a cracking tune. In fact, for me ‘The Aristocrats’ is one of the stand out songs tonight.
The set closes with the brilliant ‘Never Going Nowhere’, which is followed by some good natured and Bluetones approved booing – props to Jimmy for the sign – because we’re all complicit in the lie here; of course they’re coming back for a couple more! I do have a tiny complaint to make here though and perhaps a reason for a small boo. There was no medley at the end of the song…no Eurythmics, no Van Halen and none of the other little surprises which have been blended into the set closer. I’ll let it go this once though…
And so, having also been booed back onstage, the boys are back to finish with the aforementioned ‘London Weekend Television’ an impromptu version of ‘My Way’ and then the sure-fire crowd pleaser that is ‘If…’. Once again, The Bluetones have been outstanding and given us yet another night to remember. Here’s to a new album soon and many many more nights like tonight. Cheers, lads!
Middle Age Fanclub 