Cinderella Panto @ Darlington Civic with Jimmy Cricket

It's panto time and as befits the age old tradition, Darlington Civic have once again produced a classic, fun-packed evening for the whole family.  This years festive frolic is Cinderella, and whilst the story stays true to the tried & trusted tale, the writing, the jokes and in particular the music really brings things up to date.

I'm sure I don't need to tell you the plot, nor do I need explain the premise of a panto; all the favourites are present - the Ugly Sisters to boo at, Buttons and his unrequited love for Cinders, a Fairy Godmother to make sure the night goes well and of course The Prince & Cinderella for a happy ever after.  This production however also makes sure that there is a little extra for everyone - Jimmy Cricket does what he does best, his little solo interludes keep the audience (and in particular the kids) on a high as the stage and costumes change, The Prince & Dandini share a few subtle under jokes which only the adults in the audience will get and, for the Dads & Grandads, there is almost a burlesque appeal to the adult dancers with saucy maids and risque villagers.

The show starts quite slow with each main character having a brief intial cameo to introduce themselves before the story really starts.  Jimmy Cricket and Dawson Chance are both needed to keep the kids focussed and then we are treated to a couple of songs (blending modern pop classics with some Disney faves) before heading into the main plot. 

Stage Left - Emmerdale's Deena Payne as the Fairy Godmother revels in the role as guardian, guide and mischief maker (while occasionally giving us a glimpse of a 'great pair of pins') while giving the FGM a certain class & style.  She leads off on two of the shows great songs (fans of Glee will be in heaven) and whilst she's no X-Factor finalist, she more than holds her own.

Stage Right - Adam C Booth as Buttons and really the chief cheerleader - all the standard panto refrains come from Buttons and Adam plays to the kids perfectly.  His besotted dotage on Cinders does occasionally border on the slightly creepy (he's her life long friend but I still believe he wouldn't think twice about sneaking a peek !) but as always Buttons comes through as the dependable buddy.  Adam is a seasoned Panto actor and it shows, his timing is perfect - he knows just how to allow the audience to react and then get settled before going on with the tale.

Centre stage - Prince Charming (Ray Quinn from Brookside and X Factor finalist) proves that he's got the lot - he can dance, he can certainly sing and he can act, though a cheeky rascal scouse Prince Charming was a first for me.  In fact I'd go so far as to say that Ray is perfect for Panto, talent in abundance and the boyish good looks that will keep young fans enthralled and their older sisters in raptures.  Emma Stephens as Cinderella is stunning; she is beautiful, a very talented dancer and again another great singer.  Her Cinders has the right blend of innocence coupled with genuine beauty which is quintessential to the role.  Emma's biopic in the programme suggests that to date her career has been solely on the stage, hopefully she will tour again next year as I believe this young star has a very promising career.

Lurking in the wings - The Ugly Sisters - the favourite bad (taste) guys/girls.  Brian Godfrey and Darren Southworth play these two almost too well - they both look mighty fine in frocks and seem very comfortable in the huge range of outlandish costumes, wigs and accompaniments that make them look like Lady Gaga's rejected stage ideas.  Brian sounds like Grandad from Only Fools & Horses, which, for true authenticity, is probably the best voice for an ugly sister - unlike other panto 'Dames' (Jack's Mum or Widow Twankee) these two are never meant to be anything other than guys in bad drag and they work so well together. 

The script is tight but the cast are comfortable enough to react to the audience - in fact when Ray Quinn realised that most of us were taking the mick out of his Scouse accent he played to it and encouraged even more ribbing.  It really looks like the whole production team are having fun and why wouldn't they - they've got a great show, a great run (I'm sure it will prove to be one of Darlington's best supported pantos despite the current economic climate) and the wonderful staff of Darlington Civic to look after them.

Christmas is only round the corner but take a tip from me; have a treat early, take your family and go and get lost in the Britishness of panto, Carry-On jokes, saucy dancers and a beautiful Cinderella - you deserve it !

Holly & Ivy @ Darlington Civic

It’s Christmas Eve 1947, towards teatime with a log fire burning in the grate, snow in the sky and Holly & Ivy decorating the walls.  The scene is set for the latest play from the Middle Ground Theatre Company and this one is a wonderful festive tale of family, religion, passion, obligation and revelation.

The story centres around a village parson (played by Stuart McGugan) and his family as they meet for their customary Christmas get together.  The Reverend’s youngest daughter, Jenny, is busy preparing the house while at the same time trying to curtail her excitement of being betrothed to a young Scottish engineer David;  a marriage which will take her away from the family home and off to South America where David will work for the next 5 years.  Jenny, despite being excited and in love, is still torn as, following her mother’s death, it is she who looks after her father.

The story unfolds around the secrets of Jenny’s older sister Margaret (played by the completely glamorous Corrinne Wicks) and her reasons (both philosophical and spiritual) for feeling unable to come home and take over caring for her father.  Throughout the play the Reverend battles with his own personal ‘demons’, doubting his effectiveness, questioning whether religion still has a place in village life yet refusing to concede that it may be time to retire.  It is not until two very frank & heartfelt discussions, the first with his soldier son Mick and then Margaret, that he finds the reasons he has been searching for.  Alongside this there are two aunts (themselves being as different as Holly & Ivy) who spice up proceedings with their own take on life & love.

Star of the show is undoubtedly Jenny played by Julia Mallam, who is totally captivating as the doting daughter who knows her destiny but is happy to sacrifice it all to protect her father.  Julia is a charming, beautiful and talented actress who owned every scene she starred in and provided the thread which runs through the whole production.  I would happily buy tickets for every night just to watch her performance.

The Holly and The Ivy is a great Christmas play with a real feeling of the post war years coupled with the sense of social & moral change that prevailed through the general questioning of “what is life all about?”.  I can see this becoming a perennial favourite for the festive season.

Mr Stink @ Darlington Civic

When I was growing up I loved to read; a good story could keep me riveted for days and I loved classics such as Watership Down, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Swallows & Amazons and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory.  As I grew older & moved into more adult fayre I always held a fondness for great children's stories and so I am delighted to say that David Walliams' Mr Stink is the latest to be inducted along such tomes as Matilda, the BFG, James & the Giant Peach.

The story is a delightful tale of a young girl Chloe (wonderfully played by Lotte Gilmore)  who befriends a tramp, Mr Stink (the captivating Peter Edbrook) and shows him the innocent kindness only a child can deliver.  There's no bias, no agenda, no ulterior motive in Chloe's interaction with the smelly knight of the road and Mr Stink responds to this unexpected kindness with his own insights into life, family and washing.

Chloe's family play to the tried & tested formula of oppressive mother, down trodden but caring dad & obnoxious sister - not quite Horrid Henry style but there's certainly more than a passing nod.  Mum, (played to the cringe-making limit by Julie Nagle) is so pre-occupied with her drive into politics that she doesn't realise Dad is spending his days hiding in the cellar instead of going to work. 

I really didn't know what to expect with this production - I haven't read Mr Walliams' original story (although I do now intend to buy it for my nieces' Christmas) but from start to finish the stage was delightfully engaging - there is puppetry, great songs, very clever use of staging (especially the bath in a pond) and, despite there only being 7 actors there seemed to be a multitude of different characters along with the leads.  Ingeniously every member of the audience received a scratch & sniff guide book which, at key points in the story, allowed us to share in the smells which gives Mr Stink the edge over other sweeter smelling stories.  Some might find these a little too interactive, but it really worked well and all the kids loved the additional 4th dimension.

I think that this show will best appeal to children between 5 & 12 (Jess came with me and really enjoyed the story) but, like the aforementioned classic stories, there is certainly enough in the subtext to appeal to parents & guardians as well.

If you have children then I would definitely recommend coming along; it is much less raucous than a pantomime and yet just as funny & certainly as appealing to the youngsters - what wouldn't they like - there's smells, bodily functions, songs, dancing, puppets and Christmas - perfect !

A quick note on the cast & in particular Lotte Gilmore - Lotte plays Chloe with a perfect balance of child innocence whilst avoiding excessive naivety which would have made talking to a strange tramp quite unbelievable.  I have not come across Lotte's work before but she captured the role wonderfully and is certainly someone who I hope we will get to see again soon.

Sister Act @ Sunderland Empire

We all know the Whoopi Goldberg film about a Reno lounge singer trying to make it big by singing at the local gangsters club only to witness him 'offing' a snitch and having to go into protective custody as a nun while the case comes to court.  A great story made fabulous by the chart breaking songs used, which capture the feeling of San Francisco coupled with Motown classics and spirit-stirring gospel.  Indeed some would offer that it is this film that brought Whoopi to the attention of the whole world and with over $208 Million taken in box office receipts it's hard to argue.

This current touring production of Sister Act is glam, glossy and one of the most professional productions seen this year; the huge & detailed sets make expert use of Sunderland's expansive stage in bringing to life the church of St Katherine's (albeit moved to Philadelphia now) while the cast are brilliantly devoted (as one would expect given that most are 'nuns').  But, and I'm afraid it's a big but, there just wasn't a sense of wow in the whole story.  It seemed more like a series of sketches played out to accomplish the recounting of each chapter of the story rather than a flowing journey.  Scenes were a little predictable; set up, song - with a belting finale, applause, change scene, go again, without enough of a theatrical thread to join them up.

Maybe it was an over eagerness to include so many songs, or maybe by allowing the arrangements to almost overplay the undeniable choristic abilities of the actors that songs simply took too long, but for whatever reason things just seemed to rush from one song to another.

The audience were very much in two camps last night.  There were obviously those who clearly love the show and they knew it so well that they were starting to laugh at jokes or visual comedy before the actors had even began to deliver.  I am sure that they thoroughly enjoyed the show again and that's great, that's the magic of the theatre. 

The other camp seemed to be disconnected from what was happening on stage, treating the show as a series of song renditions and almost switching off if the song wasn't one which they knew or liked.  The songs in the first half were very much written to tell the story, but the absence of some of the well known movie tunes meant there were less hooks to keep the non-members of the fan club engaged.  It's very sad to say but there were even patrons in our row who took out their mobile phones and started texting.

Please don't get me wrong, this is an amazing production delivered by a truly wonderful cast and backed by gorgeous sets, but it just lacked the wrap around feeling of being immersed in a truly great story & script to place it up with musical royalty.

My advice is if you love great music & wonderful singing then get yourself there, if you are looking for a stage show true to the movie then best change your expectations or dig out the DVD and stay at home

The Glee Club @ Darlington Civic

"It started out as a few drinking buddies singing songs round a pub piano, it became one of the most respected and professional outfits doing the club circuit across the north of England" - and so The Glee Singers, and the timeless qualities of glee clubs across the world was born.

Founded in the hard working (and hard drinking) South Yorkshire Coal Mining district, glee clubs were far removed from the glam & glitz of the American TV series, but the harmonising songs took over the clubs, dancehalls and theatres with far more impact than the modern stateside shows.  This play, written by Richard Cameron, gives an insight into the trials & tribulations facing the stereotypical coal miners of the early sixties and does so with a wonderful blend of comedy and heartache backed with their own soundtrack.

The story tracks the colliery glee club as they practise towards their annual gala show but it is the life stories of each member which take centre stage; a young starry eyed wannabee, a failed marriage, lost family and a whole host of skeletons in the cupboard provide no end of twists.  If this was a novel it would certainly be classed a 'page turner', the great cast had the audience riveted from start to finish and the quality of the writing gave the 6 actors so much to work with that each could be given top billing. 

The laughs come more from the accuracy of human conflict and working class camaraderie rather than set up humorous situations, almost bitter sweet in some essences and most certainly something which the audience can recognise and relate to.

When you look at the collective resumes of those on stage it is like reading a smorgasbord of great British TV, film & theatre.  John Burton, Michael Chance and Paul Clarkson have probably between them starred in almost every major TV show in the past 15 years, whilst Anthony Clegg and Sean McKenzie have theatre credits to rival even 'Sir Johnny' & 'Sir Larry'.

Stand out performance for me, however, was Marc Pickering playing Colin, the youngest of the group - belying his tender age (and his even younger looks) Marc has already starred in Hollywood films, worked alongside Helen Mirren and played 'R Wayne' in Peter Kaye's TV talent show spoof "Britain's got the X Factor ...........".  In this show he gives young Colin the naive qualities of youth tempered with the premature worldliness of a boy doing a mans job deep underground.  He really is a young actor (and accomplished singer & dancer) who TV & film producers should be using much, much more -  hopefully they will do so in the very near future.

I would definitely recommend this play.  It is a worthy addition to the pedigree of Hull Truck Company productions and, as with previous shows from this amazing stable of stage wonder, it lets the writing and the actors create the story and envelop the audience completely.

Make no mistake, this really isn't anything like the American show; there is male nudity, adult themes and plenty of 'industrial language' but it is very honest, completely engaging and perfectly played. 

The Producers by Darlington Operatic Society @ Darlington Civic

Pigeons, Nazis, many different herrings, cooked books and little old ladies - all the ingredients for a wonderfully funny & entertaining evening.  Of course, it's the writing of Mel Brooks that binds all these obscure & lets face it weird components together in his timeless "The Producers", but it still needs an amazing cast & stage team to really make things work.  Tonight I saw Darlington Operatic Society's delivery and not only did they pull it off, it was as good a production as any version I have been to see - and I have seen the Nathan Lane version in the West End.

The cast are wonderful - Ken Horsley would give the aforementioned Mr Lane a real run for his money, blending pure charm with wily wit and a dash of dirty and delivering it with superb, powerful vocals.  His solo in the prison jail, complete with personal intermission was perfection and his lecherous yet timid flirting with the little old ladies had everyone laughing till we couldn't breathe.  Dan Brookes as Leo Bloom had an accent so in tune with his character that I swear if you closed your eyes you'd think it was a young Woody Allen - full of New York angst bordering on neurotic and yet maintaining the innocence which Leo's character demands.  Again, his stage presence and delivery through the songs was excellent and the two leads compliment each other perfectly both in style & harmony - excellent casting by the Director Martyn Knight.

The story, for anyone who still isn't aware of The Producers, is about a failed Broadway producer whose accountant realises, quite by chance, that you could make money with a flop than with a hit -  in effect swindle all the backers into investing into a show so bad it closes on the first night without paying back any returns.  Leo leaves his job as an accountant (done with the best resignation song & dance) and together they forge a partnership to produce a complete failure.  Thus the plot is set to find & stage such a show, and they hit upon 'Springtime for Hitler' as the vehicle for their daring double cross.

Along the way they take on a Swedish secretary slash receptionist, Ulla, who is delightfully played by Claire Wilmer with all the sultry allure and charms we've seen in other Swedish sex-bombs ( Britt Ekland & Victoria Silvstedt spring to mind).  She's got it and she flaunts it perfectly.  They engage the services of Roger DeBris and Carmen Chia (a delicious Julian Cound and the campest of camp Chris Kelly) to direct the show and arrange the unbelievable choreography along with Roger's production team. 

The show itself is Mel Brooks at his very best; how to offend as many people as possible and leave the rest wondering whether they should be ashamed to be laughing.  I wondered whether some of the bigger elements seen in the West End production would have to be sacrificed but I am delighted to say nothing was missing; the costumes, the lighting, even the over-head shot of the marching swastika were done with great aplomb. 

Huge credit must go to the whole Operatic society; this is not an easy show to produce & is very demanding from both scenery & timing, costume changes & music styles, but it was as good a performance as I have ever seen on this stage (and if you read my reviews you will see I have been quite a few times) and probably ranks in my top 10 anywhere.  The backing cast morph from audience, usherettes, old ladies, prisoners, dancers, accountants you name it - probably the most diverse set of characters you could ask someone to cover in one show.

Proving that you don't need to go to London for excellent entertainment, Darlington Operatic Society's The Producers is on at Darlington Civic until the 5th November - go & see it and I guarantee you'll feel like the King of all Broadway.

The Buddy Holly Story @ Darlington Civic

 

I have a lot to thank my Mum & Dad for; my sense of what is right & wrong, a confidence in the kitchen to try new tastes and a great appreciation of all types of music.  It's true that our choices in music are probably very different now, but growing up, my brother & I were treated to the whole range of early rock 'n' roll, pop, country and 60's contemporary.  One of dad's favourites was Buddy Holly and although I knew a bit about his life and his songs, I wouldn't profess to knowing the full ins & outs. 

The show is a great story of Buddy's life from his initial song writing, his first radio play, first aborted attempts with a contract with Decca and how he & the Crickets finally broke into the national & international music scene.  What I hadn't realised was the speed in which they turned out the songs - less than 3 years from start to tragic end and yet there are over 20 songs in this show, all of which are classic toe-tappers.  His speed in the music writing was only matched by his speed in courting - he proposed to his wife after knowing her for only 5 hours !  Of course, we all know about the terrible early end to his life in a plane crash; this too had a touch of the inevitable about it; they weren't due to fly at all, but Buddy wanted to get to the next venue ahead of the rest of tour to help get things set up and so they chartered that ill-fated flight.

The production for this tour is wonderful with some great use of scene fades to help keep the sense of time in the studio moving along, while the stage shows are full of energy.  The depiction of Buddy & the Crickets' 1st show at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem was wonderful & funny.  The musicians are all very talented, none more so than Roger Rowley who expertly played the lead with all the mannerisms, drive, passion and innocence that the great man was known for.  Of all the actors on show, however, one stood out for me - Felicity Chilver who played Buddy's wife Maria Elena.  Maybe her Mexican accent had the slightest tendency to slip towards Welsh (which made it even more adorable) but that was completely forgiven by her captivating performance as 'Mrs Holly', not to mention that she is very, very cute !

Approx 95% of the audience were of an age who would have remembered Buddy Holly 1st time round and this became even more evident as the show moved towards it's climax - a thrilling, high energy melody of the best rock 'n' roll songs of the time.  Whilst there may have been a few stiff hips stopping too many dancing in the aisles, the singing was loud and the handclapping in complete unison.

If you enjoy live music, if you love rock 'n' roll and if you want to see a great story with a great cast then Buddy is most definitely for you - it's on all week at the Darlington Civic so get your tickets & Rave On ! 

As always, the Civic plays a great host, excellent sound & sightlines and very friendly & helpful staff.

Drumchasers @ Darlington Civic

 

You know, with all the social media, tweeting, Facebook etc I honestly thought that the days of finding a new show for which I had no ideas, expectations or pre-conceptions was sadly over.  (To tell you a secret, all my life I have wished I had been in the audience for the first showing of the Rocky Horror Show, way back before the midnight costume parties and the huge cult following but alas no, I was destined just to be a follower.)  Well after tonight I honestly believe that in years to come I can stand proud and say "Yes, I saw it before they took the West End by storm"

Ethan Lewis Maltby's DrumChasers is unlike any other show I have ever seen; a mesmerising blend of unbelievable drumming coupled with beautiful dancing all set to a futuristic tale of power, rivalry and love.  Actually, to say its all drumming is doing a grave dis-service to the whole percussion experience including some truly beautiful glockenspiel melodies.  This is story-telling-without-words at its best and it had me hooked from the first beat to the very last.

Georgina King's choreography is wonderfully synchronised, evocative and yet simple, but it's not until you really watch the stage that you realise that it's no mean feat to match expressive dance with demanding drumming & exacting rhythms.

Make no mistake, this is not a show of 10 drummers simply stood on stage; each character has their own story, their own personality which they bring to the fore through genuine acting (there is no dialogue at all which makes the story telling even more engaging) and very quickly you understand the premise of the show, even before Stephen Fry's narration of the Noiseland Tale (written by Jenna Donnelly) comes in about half way through act 1.

The story, without wanting to give too much away, is about a race of people, the Drumchasers from Noiseland, who, through the loss of a worshipped relic become fractured and warring.  This relic finds it's way to earth and is discovered by Mr Bennet, a stage caretaker (played wonderfully by somebody's grandad - actually its none other than Mr Jack Warner).  His unwitting discovery prompts the Drumchasers and their guardian peacekeeper Weckl (deliciously played by the vampish Rachel Stock) to come to earth and continue their rivalry.  This is done through what I can only describe as battle drumming, a sort of dance off using percussion.

Through all of this we are treated to the impish mischief of Gene (played by Amy Kelly), the macho posturing of Blades & Vinnie (James Hulme & James Godfrey) and an age old story of two lovers from the opposite sides. Playing out like a futuristic West Side Story, Buddy (a very dishy Simon Morgan-Thomas, according to my daughter) and Eve (a very cute Stephanie Clarke) try to unite the two sides but as with all torn-lovers tales, it is far from easy.

As the story works towards its conclusion the beats become more frantic, the surprises get bigger and the choreography even more impressive (there's a great scene set in almost complete darkness - honest, believe me!).  I won't spoil things by telling you the rest of the show, 'cept to say that you should really seek out this production, take the family and go lose yourself in the rhythm.

At the end, once the final curtain came down, there was a quiet sense of awe in the audience, almost like a collective reasoning, like we had shared a moment.  We probably had as no-one truly knew what to expect, yet everyone agreed it was awesome.

There have been some iconic shows which define or even create their own genres; Riverdance, Cirque de Soliel,  The Mousetrap, We Will Rock You - I believe that we have seen another tonight which could do the same - it truly is that special that I urge anyone to treat themselves and go and see it.

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Added 8/10

Just back from watching the DrumChasers at Durham Gala, a fabulous venue and perfect for this show, the acoustics were spot on and the view (we were sat at the back of the stalls) meant we could truly appreciate the wonderful precision playing, especially the 2 James on the marimba. 

Its funny how much more you see when you watch a show again; I guess the first time I was quite unprepared for it all, whereas this time I could really take it in - I hadn't been aware of how much was going on on the gantry at the back, especially with Weckl.  Word of Warning - I honestly believe that following Rachel Stock's hips could give you whiplash !

Anyway, the show is on a break now, but is back touring towards the end of October so check out their web site for details - www.drumchasers.co.uk and  keep chasing drums.

The Verdict @ Darlington Civic

I have to admit that whilst I profess to being reasonably literate and enjoy a wide range of reading material in the bookcases at home, I have yet to enter into the realms of Agatha Christie - no particular reason, I've just found more appealing titles grab my attention first. 

Of course I am aware of the blockbusting films based on her famous novels but Monday night presented the opportunity to sample first hand a play written by Ms Christie specifically for the stage.

Verdict is very different from the standard fayre associated with Agatha Christie; for one, it is not a whodunit, we are presented first hand with the situation & witness the act with no sense of mystery.  It is more like a melodrama but this in no way detracts from the exquisite word play and character depth.

The play tells the story of Karl Hendryk, a brilliant professor who, with his wife and her cousin, have fled persecution in their country. The professor is happy to devote his time to life in a British university, where he becomes much sought after by students & teachers alike. His wife, Anya, is an invalid who resents having to leave her home & follow her husband to London.  She readily recognises her dependency on her husband and cousin, Lise, and teeters on the brink of suicidal tendencies. Whilst Karl and Lise have suppressed feelings for each other their love for Anya prevents them ever acting on these however when a rich young rich student, Helen Rollander, takes on private lessons with the professor the status quo is permanently upset.

The story plays out completely in the professors flat, there are no scene changes; this really draws you into the characters' world and adds to the intensity , especially when Anya laments being 'trapped' in a dull & soulless place. 

The cast, who arguably have much less to work with than in other Christie productions have, in my view, more scope to deliver themselves into the parts; the lack of plot twists, secrets and subterfuge demands more emotionally charged deliveries to keep the story moving and Monday's players did not disappoint at all. 

Robert Duncan plays the man who loves 2 women and is loved by 3 with an almost innocent 'absent minded professor' approach creating a beautiful yet pitiful vulnerability.  Susan Penhaligon  delivered an emotionally charged Lise beset with frustration, devotion and despair - of all the productions I have seen this year Susan's was undoubtedly the most moving.  Holly Goss, as the spoilt little rich girl Helen Rollander provides a wonderful twist on the femme fatale whilst Mark Wynter as Dr Stone adds pace and friendly direction through Karl's emotionally intense musings.  Just to balance this seriousness, Elizabeth Power's house keeper Mrs Roper has a wonderful timing, cutting through the tension as she 'eases the burden'  of there being too much tea in the house.

If you're looking for a classic Christie murder mystery then this is not for you, however if you want a wonderfully engaging play, more a why-do-it than a whodunit, and delivered by a great cast then look no further.

Agatha Christie's Verdict is at Darlington Civic Theatre from 26th Sept to 1st October

Fascinating Aida Cheap Flights @ Newcastle

Sunday nights have always been a bit of a bore to me.  First it was the bath & early night before school, then the lull after a fun weekend before the drudgery of work, and finally the end of Super Sunday live football with only Countryfile to keep me from bed by 9.  Last night, however I had the best Sunday night of many a year, setting the bar impossibly high to beat and in the process introducing me to an absolute gem of an act.

I must admit, I only heard about Fascinating Aida when a friend sent me a link to “Cheap Flights” on YouTube – by that time the clip had gone fungal (!), so when the chance came to go and watch them live it was with intrigue and anticipation that I arranged the tickets.

From the first minute to the last of 2 hefty encores, the 3 ladies of mirth & musical merriment delivered the upmost in comic & satirical wordplay to give Flanders & Swann, Stephen Fry, Victoria Wood, Monty Python, Mel Brooks and Richard Digance (yes I still remember him) good reason to hang up their quills, put away their pianos and accept that they have been completely usurped.  (Sorry Stephen, you’re still my favourite presenter but even you cannot match three lovely ladies on stage)

Founded by  Dillie Keane in 1983 and joined in 1984 by Adele Anderson, Fascinating Aida have been successfully touring the world for over 25 years, delivering their blend of cutting satire with operatic harmonies and quint-essential devilment.  Now assisted by Sarah-Louise Young (who, by Dillie’s own admission, halves the average age of the group) we were treated to the full array of melodious mischief including songs about Dogging, the Economy (for which I daren’t disclose the title for fear of reproach by my mum), Modern Art, the aforementioned Cheap Flights and a wonderful exploration of the nuances of Bulgarian folk music.  The musical scope didn't stop at thematic harmonies, there was Dillie's wonderful Hip Hop omage to keeping up with the kids, Sarah-Louise's lament for the previous nights 'rendezvous' and Adele explaining how to be German. 

In these times of austerity and reduced disposable income, when times are bad and spirits low, when the world is teetering on the brink of a double dip, I can offer this suggestion; forego eating for a week, pass up the chance to buy those new shoes, stop the kids pocket money for a month – in fact, do anything to make sure you can buy a ticket for this show – the impact will be far reaching, the smiles long lasting and the glow of inner happiness..... who am I kidding, just go and watch 3 super talented & utterly charming ladies verge on dirty and forget your troubles for the night.

This was a night of firsts for me; it was also the first time I had been to the Journal Tyne Theatre, formally known as The Stoll.  What a wonderful theatre, full of character retaining all the charm of an old music hall and filled with the essence of hundreds of years of performing.  I doubt, however that it had ever played host to such a compelling & embracing example of cabaret which completely enthralled the audience.  A special thank you goes to Phil, the duty manager, who personally ensured that my brother & I had a very comfortable 2^nd half.

Live Psychic & Science @ Darlington Civic

I love scary movies, ghost stories and tales of the supernatural; Japanese films like Ju-On, The Grudge and Ringu with their basis on spirit, vengeance and unfinished business are my staple fayre for a Saturday night.  Likewise local tales of the unexplained grab my imagination completely, but if someone was to ask if I was a 'believer' then I would probably have to say not quite, not yet anyway.

I guess that because for work I deal with facts, figures and exact things, the prospect of things I can't explain really fascinates me. I am not someone who tries to rationalise these type of thing either, just very happy to live in the moment and keep an open mind.

So, when I saw the opportunity to go to Darlington Civic theatre to watch the Live Psychic & Science show I was immediately intrigued; how would a theatre full of watchers respond to a stage show offering live seances, a human pendulum and many more.

Hosted by Paul Gannon and calling on the expertise of TV medium Chris Conway, paranormal investigator Denise Mott and paranormal historian Richard Felix, the calibre of our earthly guests was impressive.  (as anyone who has watched "Most Haunted" would agree).  This was only the 2nd show in the tour and some of the technical solutions were still being fine tuned (although in this type of show, any interruption to the 'norm' could be attributed to interference by other visitors)

Paul proceeded to introduce the show and set the scene for what we were about to enjoy - the theatre was going into lock down (a great phrase which immediately heightened feelings), that Chris would be protecting the audience and should anyone feel unwell they should make it known to Denise who would be amongst the auditorium.

We were to be treated to a Ouija Board, a seance, a human pendulum, a lone vigil and many more exercises in exploring the spirit side of this old theatre, but what really worked for me was the small interjections by Richard who, as a paranormal historian, brought some local focus and a degree of explanation to the evenings activities.  Richard had explored the history of Darlington, the town and of course the theatre and was able to add stories from the past which really gave a grounding to the spirit interaction we witnessed.

I will resist the temptation to take you through each part of the show in depth; for anyone who is thinking of going to see this show it would be unfair to remove the cloak of the unknown but as each venue will be different I can let you in on a couple of specifics.

Throughout the show there were very strange feelings; icy blasts of air (and it's a very old theatre so it wasn't the air conditioning), a sense of being watched from behind, I had the distinct feeling of a hand grabbing the back of my neck (and there was no-one in the row behind) and regular emotions of unease & almost sadness.

Through the Ouija board (which was guided by 9 members of the audience and Chris) we made contact with the spirit of a stage hand who hanged himself in the theatre.  Chris was also able to guide the spirit of a little girl who lost her life in the theatre (the question "were you murdered?" received a very definite Yes response from the board and an audible gasp from the audience). 

The human pendulum, in which a member of the audience volunteers to allow themselves to be moved by spirit in response to Yes & No questions was possibly the most intense as the messages which came through were very personal to another member of the audience, someone who was looking for some closure and hopefully she got it (it was very moving to witness).

The show moves at a great pace, which only serves to intensify the feelings when the focus stops on one specific entity.  At times there were many different happenings all at once - spirits both upstairs & down, unease in the theatre box, the lone vigil on the overhead screen as well as the guided interaction through the group on stage but Paul manages very well to keep everything together without it feeling chaotic (having said that, spirits are a law unto themselves so they won't always stick to the 'running order'). 

Richard explained, there are 3 types of people - believers, cynics and sceptics.  Believers welcome any opportunity to interact with spirit, cynics are out to disprove, debunk or at least refuse to accept there could be a spirit world,  whereas sceptics have yet to be convinced but are open of mind. 

I entered the show as a sceptic; I like to think I have an open mind but I also like my own proof before truly accepting.  I left the show with more questions than answers yet leaning very much towards being a believer.

Calendar Girls @ Sunderland Empire

What do you get if you blend the cream of British actresses, icons from the stage & screen, comedic genius and a heart warming story made all the more amazing because it was true ?? No, give in ? Then I will tell you – Calendar Girls at the Sunderland Empire.

The hit film, based on the true story by Tim Firth about a group of WI ladies determined to raise money by producing an ‘alternative’ calendar was a huge international success and has undoubtedly been one of the reasons for the continued ‘sold out’ signs across the nations’ theatres. That said, this stage production brings an added element to the experience which the celluloid version misses; with this wonderful cast the emotions are truly palpable, the laughs shared with everyone and the tears are very real.

The main drive of the story, Annie & Johns final days together, was heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measures – wonderfully portrayed by Jan Harvey & Joe McGann. Playing off against this was the rest of the WI and their playful ribbing of each other while trying their best to sabotage Marie’s (Ruth Madoc) attempts to impress Lady Cravenshire (Jane Lambert). The passage of time, cleverly portrayed by using key social occasions through the year gave more opportunities to watch the characters – my personal favourite was Debbie Chazen as Ruth; her forays into costume comedy and her ultimate dismissing of the make up artist were pure gold.

I loved the intimacy & realism with which each character shared their own response to the idea of being nude (not 'getting naked' !!). Vodka, cream buns, marmalade & knitting needles all play a part in giving the ladies the modesty (or courage) they needed. Then, coupled with wonderful comedy timing, the process of actually getting their shots done was a riotous laugh fest which had me literally gasping for breath and almost begging for them to stop.

The second half of the show delved into the dangers & pitfalls of letting celebrity take over from one’s initial scruples but it was done in such a way that you were never left hating any particular character. Chris (played by the delightful Lynda Bellingham) teetered on the brink of abandoning all in the pursuit of her chance in the spot light, especially when offered the opportunity of filming an advert, but it was the announcement of the final total raised which gave her the ultimate sense of achievement.

I must admit that looking around the theatre it was probably an 80/20 split of ladies to men – and I am not really sure why. The show is clearly not a’feminist’ story; it’s about life, love and making a difference. Likewise, it’s not full of female nudity which some men might fear would label their attendance as slightly ‘pervy’ – it is a celebration of what can be done when you strip away any inhibitions (please pardon the pun).

What was evident was that all the gents were enjoying the show equally as much as their lady companions. So if there are any guys reading this who are unsure, or who have been bought tickets by their partners and are due to go and watch – fear not – you are in for a complete treat and a fabulous story played out by a true celebration of great British actresses.

BBC Newcastle Studio Tours

For most of my life BBC North East has been the thread with which my day has been woven; BBC Radio Newcastle breakfast bulletins during the snowy days hoping that the school would be closed, the "It's a Goal Show" on a Saturday afternoon (and the unbearable tension of who has just scored), the unparalleled news coverage of all things local and of course the breaking sports stories of Keegan, Mirandinha, Cole, Shearer and Beardsley.  

Added to this were more national stories; Prince Charles & Lady Diana were in the North East when they broke news of their divorce, the opening of Europe's largest shopping mall - The Metro Centre, The Great North Run and right up to the chase and standoff with Raul Moat - all these stories have had national and international impact and were all captured and 'broken' by BBC Newcastle.

Of course, there is so much more to BBC Newcastle than simply the local news & weather;  Byker Grove, Inside Out, The Politics Show and many more all are testament to the quality & diversity of our regional productions.

So, when we got the chance to take a tour around the 'Pink Palace' to see how these TV shows & radio programmes are produced we jumped at the opportunity.  Situated just north of St James Park on Barrack Road, it's really easy to find the broadcasting headquarters.  We went on a Saturday for the 13.30 tour and, along with a family from Stamfordham and a couple from York we were warmly greeted by our tour guides for the afternoon.

Sarah & Jessica were a very welcome, friendly and smiley sight on a dismal afternoon of rain & wind and they very quickly made us forget all about the outside weather.  Both girls are very knowledgeable about all things 'Beeb', as well as having great insight into broadcasting in general.  Sarah is in fact a budding playwright (having already had a play produced at the Theatre Royal and a commendation for an upcoming novel) while Jessica is already a successful Look North researcher and reporter.

Our tour started with a look back in time to see how BBC Newcastle first started and the key people and changes along the way.  From here we were taken into the archive room to see just how big the library of previous news, reports and programmes BBC Newcastle keep.  As Sarah explained, the intention is for this huge collection to eventually be digitised and made available through the BBC On-Line service - no small task when you think that there is over 45 years of regional news as well as all the 'rushes' of outside broadcasts and interview. 

From here we were given a great insight into the use of 'greenscreen' technology (or, if I remember what the girls said, it is Colour Separation Overlay - CSO) in a cosy studio used during the week for travel reporting - we too were Gilly Hope stood above the A19.  But if we were impressed by this technical box of delights then the next stop was really going to grab our breath.

We were taken through the news room, through some thick, soundproof doors and into the main studio - and what an impressive set up this is.  The studio, complete with 80 huge ceiling-hung lights, is set up as the BBC regional news desk, the weather board and the 'sofa-corner' used for the evening Look North. In here we were given an overview as to how the studio was built, how the scenery and backdrops work to give the impression of a news-desk behind and how the weather presenters interact with the graphics.  We got to sit at Colin's news desk while reading the autocue and realise that sometimes it's only him in there, all on his own, automatic cameras and no tea/coffee boy.  We all had chance to have our pictures taken before we left the studio and followed Sarah into the control gallery.

This is a technical Aladdin's cave with vision mixing, sound desk and the producer & directors control areas.  All through this both Jess & Sarah were giving us commentary as to how the team come together on broadcasting day, who takes the lead and just how tight to the wire things can get.  These girls are great; they obviously have fun doing the tours and no question is too daft or simple for them.

We then left the TV area and headed into BBC Newcastle - just as we were leaving the Green Room and going into one of the empty radio studios to take a closer look we were enthusiastically beckoned by Jonathan Miles (usual presenter of the mid-morning show and, despite a very 'active' night, admirably stepping into the breach to cover the Saturday afternoon slot) to come into his studio while live on air.  If you haven't listened to Jonathan before, he normally tackles very thought-provoking issues in a completely unique style, but this afternoon he was in a relaxed and somewhat mischievous mood.  In between announcing tunes and time-checking he explained how he learnt his craft (naming Kenny Everett and Mike Aspel) and how the play lists are now all pre-defined - mainly by groups of women being asked to pick their favourite songs - no wonder I keep hearing Boyzone, Take That and Daniel O'Donnel!!!

Bidding adieu to Mr Miles and leaving him to take the listeners back to a mystery year, we concluded our tour with a little something special - I am not going to tell you what as it was a great surprise for us and it's best that you too have that to look forward to.

This was a wonderful way to spend a few hours in the company of two charming & delightful guides. I would urge anyone who has ever watched a BBC Newcastle show or listened to the BBC radio to book a tour, it's a unique chance to see behind the scenes of OUR regional broadcaster.

Thank you to Sarah & Jess and good luck in your future productions.

BBC Newcastle Tours are available on Tuesdays & Saturdays at either 10.45 or 13.30 and can be booked through http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/tours/newcastle.shtml

As BBC Newcastle is a working environment, the different times & days for the tours will mean various things are happening through the week.

Barry & Stuart Magicians @ Durham Gala

On Friday I took Mrs B up to Durham to the Gala to see the latest in a long line of Scottish double acts.  For those of you who have yet to go to the Gala theatre you're really missing out on a treat.  From the modern and spacious entrance, the light and airy bar and the intimate size you go into a perfectly formed, excellently designed auditorium ideal for smaller shows, stand up and, in this case, magic (magic .... magic .... magic.... that was my attempt at an echo for dramatic effect). The seats are super comfy with more leg room than a 1st class seat on BMI and the sight lines are all excellent.

So, we came to watch Barry & Stuart; a two-man magic act also known as the 2magicians. They are known for their dark and sinister performing style, weird and bloody tricks and for hosting and arranging the recent BBC series 'Magicians' (where celebrities were coached into doing magic & illusions) 

I can't really delve too deeply into the act without giving away the essence of surprise & wonder but I will say that these two young men have honed their act into a very slick, very modern take on a range of quite traditional illusions & slight of hand tricks.  Afterwards you are left thinking, "I've seen that trick before, but never like this" and you still can't work out how they do it.  Inter-played with the magic is an amazing feat of memory recall which uses a bed of nails in a very novel way.  My personal favourite was probably the simplest; while Stuart performed the appearing coin trick, Barry accompanied his actions on a sound-box loaded with Super Mario jingles & effects - watching Stuart run around the auditorium do the strains of Nintendo's famous plumber was indeed simple but very, very  funny.

I thought that some more ornate tricks would be difficult to do with such an intimate audience, but having the two of them on stage means you are always torn as to who to watch and, of course, while you are watching one the other one is busy keeping the illusion moving.  Suffice it to say I really tried hard to pay close attention to the set up of tricks, felt sure I would be able to at least work out how, even if I couldn't see when but alas, no, they are just too slick or they throw in a last minute curve ball and the trick morphs into something completely different.

Their humour is dark, modern and very much grounded in who they are; two 20 something lads from Scotland who are rapidly rivalling the great Penn & Tellar for the crown of best in crass & class - not all their tricks are family friendly so beware - there is an age suggestion of 14+ and there is reason for that :-).

Barry & Stuart are busy touring 'darn sarf' for the moment, but then they have almost all of August in Edinburgh, so if you're heading up north for the festival I would definitely recommend taking in their show.