|
|
|
|
|
All the Fun of the Fair Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton *** You cannot deny that David Essex has
practically done it all in the world of entertainment during his long
and highly successful career .He seems to still be enjoying the
limelight, even if most of it is now given up to the young cast of All
the Fun of the Fair. Essex put together this musical featuring his own
work back in 2008. With an early taste of musical theatre, playing the
lead in Godspell in 1971 and several other major West End productions
throughout his career , one wonders if this was what he had in
mind for his songs all of the time. Essex plays Levi the owner of a 70s touring
Fairground .With Louise English playing Rosa the Irish fortune teller
there seems to be an obvious nod to his own roots as his real father was
an Eastend dock worker and his mother an Irish traveller. David's presence was clearly a delight to his
adoring fan base but as someone who has often stated he wants to be
taken seriously the woops and mutterings every time he entered the stage
must have been a distraction. When a mobile phone went off close to the
stage he stopped and gave a long disapproving stare in the offenders'
direction. (And quite rightly so)
It is something of an achievement to be able to
collate songs from one's own self penned repertoire then shoe horn them
into a narrative in such a constructive way but even so, the first act
still seemed a bit shallow. The songs, whilst enjoyable, lacked the
musical depth to sustain the drama with a host of, flashing lights, and
ride on bumper cars to cover the gaps. However the second half was far more effective ,
nothing felt out of place and even with its minimal staging every segue
felt written for the part and dramatically flowed well. A notable section and turning point was (Rob
Compton) Levis son Jack and his love interest Alice (Tanya Robb) when
they meet at the station to elope performing a perfect rendition of ` If
I could.' Barry Bloxham revives his role as the evil,
leather clad henchman, Druid from the original production and was
effective enough to warrant boos for him at the curtain call. The dilemma Essex and his team must now face is
what to do with it all as this run comes to an end. It is a musical that
relies heavily on his presence and for someone who looks for constant
diversity, and at the age of 64, it's hard to imagine him touring with
it again. However I am sure the full house at the Grand
were not thinking about that or his future career direction during their
final standing ovation as clearly for them, the only way is Essex.
*** FORMER pop star David Essex is really
more actor than singer in this pleasant musical story based on his much
loved albums. Now 64, his voice has inevitably lost some of its
power, but that is cleverly disguised by other members of the cast
joining him when he sings some of those hit numbers from the past. And Essex is modest enough to admit the toll of
the years when, playing fairground owner Levi Lee, he looks back on the
past when he had 'black curly hair', removing his porkpie hat to reveal
a head balding and grey. His fans loved that, and there were plenty in the
first night audience who gave him a standing ovation mixed with cheers
at the final curtain. Essex plays a widower whose wife died in a wall
of death motorbike accident, perhaps linked to his revealing an affair
with the fair's fortune teller, Rosa (Louise English). His son Jack (Rob Compton) is proving a Jack the
Lad, two-timing his girlfriend and heading for a sticky end...there's a
feeling of Carousel about some of this musical. There is an impressive performance from Tim
Newman as Jack's loyal friend, Jonny, and the audience enjoy hits like
Hold Me Close, Gonna Make You a Star, A Winter's Tale and Rock On. The show ends at full throttle with Jack soaring
over the audience on a motorbike with Essex, in leathers astride another
grounded bike, and Jonny, singing Silver Dream Machine. All the fun of the Fair is directed by Nikolai
Foster. To 14.04.12 Paul Marston
|
|
|
|
