On Stage: Stop Messing About - The Kenneth Williams Extravaganza

Stop Messing About is the oft quoted catchphrase associated with the late, great comedy actor and raconteur Kenneth Williams but was also the title of a largely forgotten radio series featuring the star of several films in the Carry On series.

Williams found himself fronting his own radio series after his Round the Horne co-star, Kenneth Horne, died suddenly of a heart attack in 1969. The material that would have formed the fifth series of that show was hastily reworked as Stop Messing About by scriptwriters Brian Cooke and Johnny Mortimer. It is this series that forms the basis of this new stage production Stop Messing About - The Kenneth Williams Extravaganza, set to the backdrop of a  faithfully recreated BBC studio, along with a talented cast delivering a script to a live audience as if a radio recording is in progress.

Robin Sebastian faithfully brings the persona of Kenneth Williams to life delivering responses and lines in the scripts that would delight any fan of the late star. India Fisher is the perfect compliment to Sebastian as Joan Sims, displaying a wide variety of characters and voices as Sims herself would have done.  The pair are joined by Nigel Harrison as Hugh Paddick and Charles Armstrong as the announcer resulting in a replication of the chemistry displayed by the original team as the show progresses.

Sadly, it has to be remembered that Stop Messing About wasn’t the finest moment of Williams' radio career and despite the exceptional performances some of the material is either too bawdy or dated in places. However, sketches such as Williams’ War Memoirs, Joan Sims Driving Test and The Radio Addict are still funny enough to make this production worth a watch.

• A version of this review by Andy Howells was published in The South Wales Argus during March 2010

In Concert: Elkie Brooks, Newport Riverfront, 2008

I was introduced to Elkie Brooks music when she was a guest on The Two Ronnies TV show for several consecutive Saturday nights back in the 1980s. Her mix of jazz, blues and rock vocals were as much an eagerly awaited treat on a Saturday evening for me as Messrs Barker and Corbett’s comedy, so it was great to have some of that magic reignited at Newport Riverfront on Saturday evening.

The years rolled away as Elkie stepped onto Newport Riverfront’s stage to the sound of rapturous applause and backed by a six strong band of talented musicians. Looking elegant in a silver dress, she belted out a cross range of blues standards, rock classics and a pick of her greatest hits for nearly two hours.

Launching into the upbeat track Hurricane, Elkie performed with energy and enthusiasm displaying that she still has what it takes as one of the greatest voices in British Rock. She then paid homage to Percy Sledge with the bluesy Warm and Tender Love. This was followed by the first of several hits from her back catalogue, her classic rendition of Chris Rea’s Fool if You Think It’s Over from 1982.

It was apparent Elkie was thoroughly enjoying performing and caught the audience’s attention throughout. At one point she even held a note for well over a minute, I wonder how many of today's so called stars could achieve that?

Rocking the Riverfront up a bit in the second half, Elkie paid tribute to The Doors with a fantastic version of Roadhouse Blues and then treat the audience to more of her hits including Lilac Wine, Sunshine After The Rain, We've Got Tonight and her anthem Pearls a Singer.

Rather than likening Elkie to a Pearl , I’d say by her performance on Saturday evening, she is still one of the finest jewels in the crown of the British Music scene and would recommend that if you get a chance to catch her in the future, you should book early before she sells out again!

In Concert: Jethro Tull, St David's Hall, Cardiff, 2008

"Some big and bad noise is gonna happen" promised Jethro Tull front man Ian Anderson to a packed house at St David's Hall. The mixture of acoustic blues, classical music, jazz and prog rock that followed certainly delivered.

The show kicked off with special guests, Welsh band, The Crook family performing tracks from their new CD including the memorable and catchy track A Twisted Kind Of Love before Ian Anderson and veteran Tull drummer Doanne Perry joined them on stage for a few numbers.

After a brief change over period, Ian Anderson along with Martin Barre, John O Hara , David Goodier and Doanne Perry took the audience back forty years to the beginnings of Jethro Tull, kicking off with That Old Feeling and then straight into their 1969 hit Living in the Past.

It was great to see that Ian Anderson still carries as much charisma on stage as he appeared to back in the early days, frequently dancing around and standing on one leg while playing his flute.

Other tracks performed were One for John Gee their tribute to the aforementioned Marquee club manager who gave the band their big break back in the 1960's and So Much Trouble, a popular track from an early John Peel session. Another highlight was a version of Bach's Bouree which brought classical right into mainstream.

Other tracks from albums Thick as a Brick , Crest of a Knave, Stand Up and Heavy Horses made this retrospective concert an enjoyable evening and demonstrated why Jethro Tull are still top of their game four decades on from their initial success.

• A version of this review by Andy Howells was published in the South Wales Argus during April, 2008

In Concert: The Barron Knights, Newport Riverfront, 2008

At a recent ‘surprise’ concert Barron Knights front man Pete Langford heard a bewildered woman utter “The Barron Knights? Are they still alive?” Well, as the gig at Newport Riverfront proved last night, yes they are, and 48 years into their career, still kicking too!

Formed in 1960, The Barron Knights are one of the few groups to have the distinction of actually touring with both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in the 1960s. Starting off as a serious band they became legendary in the music business for satirising contemporary groups of the day through hits such as Call Up The Groups and A Taste of Aggro.

Fans were not disappointed by The Knights set list which opened with a rousing version of Eddie Cochran’s C’mon Everybody. A medley of The Knights greatest hits followed including a humorous tribute to Camilla Parker Bowles and their take on the Boney M hit Rivers of Babylon (There’s a Dentist in Birmingham).

There was a great mixture of classic rock’n’roll with tributes to The Coasters, The Everly Brothers, Lonnie Donegan and The Crickets with some comedy thrown in for good measure.

Highlights included the orchestral version of the William Tell Overture, a cover of The Beatles song Blackbird, and a flamenco piece played by Pete called Malaguena. A track originally banned by the BBC satirising David Bowie’s cat Birth Control to Ginger Tom was also performed to everyone’s delight.

As they approach their half century, The Barron Knights proved they've still got what it takes to deliver a very entertaining show. Long may they reign!

• A version of this review by Andy Howells was published in The South Wales Argus in February 2008.
• Review of The Barron Knights Concert, Newport Riverfront, 2011

In Concert: The Blues Band, Newport Riverfront, 2007

The Blues Band arrived at Newport Riverfront on Friday night with two sets worth of classic Rhythm and Blues tracks.

Paul Jones, Dave Kelly, Tom McGuinness, Gary Fletcher and Rob Townsend now in their 29^th year as an ensemble, delivered over two hours of classic blues and original compositions from group and solo albums.

Paul Jones, ever ‘the one in the middle’ displayed an unfaltering broad vocal range, as well as an impeccable style for playing the mouth organ. It was easy to see why, when performing songs by Sonny Boy Williamson and Curtis Mayfield how he has remained at the top of his field for over 40 years.

Jones didn't sing all the lead vocals however, these were shared out with other Blues Band members Dave Kelly, Tom McGuinness and Gary Fletcher, all whom performed tributes to Ray Charles, Arthur Crudup and Howlin' Wolf among others.All delivered an extremely high standard of performance, while Rob Townsend kept a steady beat on drums and percussion.

Instrumental highlights included McGuinness’s guitar solo’s (of which one he performed while balancing guitar on his shoulder back) and a phenomenal drum solo from Townsend in the encore. All in all, a fantastic concert to end the week in which you could rock, roll and ultimately chill out. Let’s hope the Blues Band return to Newport for their 30^th anniversary tour!

• The Blues Band Official Website
• Review of The Blues Band at Newport Riverfront, 2011
• This review was published in The South Wales Argus during November 2007

On Stage: Dad's Army - The Missing Episodes. New Theatre, Cardiff

On seeing Dad’s Army: The Lost Episodes starring former EastEnder Leslie Grantham and Emmerdale’s Peter Martin, I could almost hear a distant John Le Mesurier as Sgt Wilson asking “Do you think that’s wise?”

Being a lifelong fan of the Dad's Army TV series, Jimmy Perry and David Croft’s adventures of Walmington-On-Sea’s Home Guard still tickle my funny bone decades on from their original broadcast, but certain rewrites in places could have made this stage presentation flow a lot smoother than it did, particularly between episodes.

Leslie Grantham does shine though, as lovable spiv, Private Walker, injecting the charm and charisma of his own personality into the role originally made famous by James Beck, while Kern Falconer displays the doom and gloom necessary for cantankerous Scotsman Private Frazer, an interpretation that even John Laurie himself would have been proud of.

Peter Martin’s portrayal of Captain Mainwaring doesn’t quite deliver unfortunately, maybe not so much a fault of Martin’s but more for the fact that Mainwaring is forever entwined within the personality of Arthur Lowe, a role the actor very much made his own through 80 TV episodes.

However, criticism aside, this is a rare chance to see an interpretation of two of the three missing shows from the series, A Stripe for Frazer and The Loneliness of The Long Distance Walker, done in the spirit of Dad’s Army even if they lack something of the sparkle of the original.

• A version of this review by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus during October 2007

In Concert: The Searchers, Newport Riverfront, 2007

The Searchers were among a legion of bands that formed ‘The Mersey Sound’ back in 1963 and followed fellow Liverpudlians The Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers straight to the the top of the charts with hits such as Sweets For My Sweet, Don’t Throw Your Love Away and When You Walk In the Room.

Growing up literally a decade after their initial chart success, my awareness of them was a collection of Pye singles from the mid-60’s in my parents record box. I always loved the sound of the jangly guitars and falsetto vocals set against the scratchy popping of well played mono vinyl. There was always something quite magical about the sound of The Searchers

And last night, it was evident the magic was still there as the Searchers played to a packed house at the Riverfront. Long standing members John McNally and Frank Allen were joined by Spencer James and Eddie Rothe and belted out over 45 years worth of hits, b-sides and album tracks plus a few covers. There were many memorable moments including renditions of What Have They Done To The Rain?, Mr Tambourine Man and Roy Orbison’s Running Scared.

It was clear that The Searchers were thoroughly enjoying themselves  and had the audience joining in with the songs wherever possible.The raw energy of their original 1960’s records certainly transformed to the stage and I honestly felt I could smell the original Vinyl

• A version of this review by Andy Howells was originally published in The South Wales Argus during October 2007.