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October/November 2006
Hello ...Due to Work here in Australia, and Overseas Commitments - I'm afraid our "Whats New" Column has somewhat suffered a bit . but hope to make it up in this 23rd Issue !
We will probably have to cut down this page to a more suitable size in the not too distant future- and provide a more newsletter type format .
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NOSTALGIA PRODUCTONS
Top Shows over the Years for Seniors at the Sydney Town Hall.
Roy Waterson has been proudly presenting his Seniors Shows at the Sydney Town Hall since 1981..with stars Like Allan Jones, Patrick O'Hagan, Tessie O'Shea,
Kahmal, Sandy Scott, David Hobson, Max Bygraves,The Ten Tenors,.....and his more recent Stars The Bachelors from the UK.
Roy's experience not only as a performer , but a Concert Promotor , has always paid off with capacity crowds packing the Sydney Town Hall for two shows in the one day.
As a performer I can only say the audiences are a joy to work too , and they certainly appreciate the shows Nostalgia present for them throughout the year.
Roy's February Presentation at the Town Hall ..brings together the "Shamrock and Thistle" with John McNally..and back from retirement the wonderful and ever popular
Rhythmaires..The Ann Derwent Irish Dancers...Vivienne Powell ...Glen Amer ..David Parsons at the Grand Organ...Yours truly !! ..and of course Roy Waterson himself.. "just singing the old songs and your requests"
Full details are on the Flyer below...A SHOW NOT TO BE MISSED !!
John Macnally
Click on Flyer for Full Information and Booking Details
The Ken Dodd Show - Newark - Palace Theatre ...REVIEW - 7/6/06
An Evening with Ken Arthur Dodd ..at a theatre near you is something that most of you would never forgot I promise you ..so it was with great expectation, that on a beautiful warm early summers evening in June this year,
I walked from my Hotel down to the beautiful Palace Theatre in Newark, for a night with the Master of Mirth.
I knew I was in for a long night !! so having a wee tickle at the Bar seemed the right way to go..although with the sold out packed house for Ken Dodd ..the bar seemed very far in the distance ..finally a beautiful cool drink hit
the spot , and no sooner was it passing beautifully down my throat ..
than the five minute warning bell went for the Start of the Show.
At 7.30pm The show opened to Dodd's Overture...and shortly after Ken Dodd walked on stage to a big welcome from the Newark audience....Ken works his audience extremely well ...
and says straight away "It's going to be a long night !!" ..which it was ..but no one seemed to care ! Dodd's quick no-stop delivery hasn't wained over the years...neither has his perfect timing , and quick wit..if anything they are better than ever.
Our "new wave" comics should make a point of catching the man himself in action...they could learn a greal deal in how he controls and manipulates his audiences, as only a true "pro' can do.
He picks his subjects well from the audience..usually in the front few rows...and works one-liners on them throughout the show..much to the delight of the rest of the audience !
He reminds the punters throughout his show about his past encounter with the Tax Office ...and repeats throughout the show ..that he may stay on stage for a while ...on cue one of his behind the scenes helpers ..appears on stage and drops a sandwich box and thermos flask at Doddy's feet....
to which he replies to the audience " Aaah Yes But I came prepared !! Did You ? "
Although Ken was definitely the Star of the show ..he was supported by his professional backing band .comprising of Keyboard and Drums..Plus Vocalist Sybie Jones, who featured a wide range of music from Country to Classical..and Talented
Illusionist Paul Derek who left the crowd amazed at his disappearing ducks and exotic birds..who seem to take charge of the Theatre Stage..much to the amusement of Ken Dodd entering for his final Spot...saying it's like working in EMERDALE Farm !!
The Palace Theatre in Newark , would have to have the most friendly staff I have ever met ..and this certainly contributes to the success of any show....not that Dodd needed any help winning his fans over ..
taking his final curtain call at 12.40am .. after many encores from the audience ...he finally finished to the longest standing oviation I have witnessed in a while, which he deserved every bit of, as the Newark crowd loved him ....After all he is one of the last true Legends we have left ! And we should treasure him dearly
I'm glad I eventually saw him live....and look forward very much to my next encounter with
KEN ARTHUR DODD !
Visit The Ken Dodd Site
Marty Wilde - at the City Varieties Leeds - REVIEW ! 9/6/06
The Beautiful City Varieties in Leeds was the venue for "The Marty Wilde Show" ...although his show at Leeds clashed with the First game of the Soccer World Cup,
the audience was definitely there to see Marty, and his own group The Wildcats.
As the show started I looked around at the Beautiful decor ...and it brought me back to the days this Theatre was used as the "backdrop" for the TV Show 'The Good Old Days" which ran for many years
in the UK ....and even to this day ..City Varieties still present there version of the Show at certain times of the year.
The first half of the Marty Wilde Show was taken up by his group The Wildcats ...all a great bunch of Entertainers and Musicians ..they kept the crowd in the mood for all of the first half of the show..They featured a wide array of music throughout there spot..
Most memorable, was there tribute to the English rockers ..Adam Faith..Cliff Richard.....Eden Kane..Billy Fury..and many more. The working relationship between Wilde and his Wildcats no doubt has been a long one over the years...so it wasn't surprising that the audience loved there great stage presence, and musicianship.
At the Interval I retreated to a place that was well recommended to me by
my friend in Leeds .."The Circle Bar" ..pictured below .. It has a great atmosphere .. and has it's walls adorned with the Stars, Past and Present ..who have appeared there.
The Second half of the show brought on stage the Star Marty Wilde ....who seemed quite at home in this Venue ..along with his "Wildcats" backing him.
Marty has stood the test of time...and his many Hits were well remembered by the Audience
His opener Viva Las Vegas was a pleasant surprise ..as were his versions of Carole King's "You've got a Friend".... Roy Orbison's "You Got It" and Elvis's "Are you Lonesome Tonight"...But his most appreciated songs were his ..Jezebel....Runaway...Donna...Teenager in Love...
Marty WIlde left the stage to a great standing ovation ...by which time, he had just about every person in the Theatre dancing in the Isles ...maybe the song was right after all ..He has stll Got It...A most enjoyable night from Marty Wilde and The Wildcats ! ...The Leeds audience thought so too !
Marty Wilde and yours truly - City Varieties -Leeds 9/6/06
Visit The Marty Wilde Site
"Sinatra at The London Palladium" - Review 3/6/06
On a warm summer's night in London ,I decided to catch this most wonderful production at the Classy London Palladium..If you haven't been that lucky to see the Great Frank Sinatra live during his lifetime ..
well this show is the next best thing to it....It is not a "clone" or "Impersonator" Show .but Frank himself ..so to speak!
With a cast of twenty superb dancers and singers ...and there Orchestral backing, comprising of 25 musicians.
The London Palladium's newly revamped stage really suits this production extremely well....and the band is used to there full exposure ..Frank himself of course has been re-created from hours of Film, Television, Concert, and private Sinatra Family film footage...
to give us a wonderful journey through his life and music.There's even a plane on the stage , which is used to full advantage by the cast ..for numbers like "Fly me to the Moon"..and "Come Fly with Me".
The Show opens with Frank appearing in a digital re-hanced image ..slowing moving on to the stage ..in fact the effects throughout the show ..by way of Sinatra actually guilding on to the stage .by way of moving computer driven mechanics is very well
slotted into the production. The particular night I saw the show the trap-doors which brought up several of the cast in different songs ..came to a halt ..due to techincal difficulties ...but the show was soon on it's way again ..swinging with that First Class band ..
and Wonderful Vocalists and Dancers.....ending in the Finale with none other than "My Way"..with the audience on there feet at the Palladium, swaying and dancing to the music,the encores went on for some time, all followed with one after another Sinatra hit.
A Wonderful Production I thought well produced and directed ...It must have also been a long way from the drawing board
to finally put the whole idea together - A First Class Show and Venue - I could have quite happily sat through it again
Visit the Sinatra Show Site for more Info
Until Next Month - Bye For Now !
J.C.M.
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