Blackburn International Entertainment Agency Showcase 2011 - Day Two
Published Thursday 23 June 2011 at 12:55 by Mark Ritchie
The second evening began in dynamic and mesmerising fashion with an eye-catching opening. Quite unannounced, an electric violin player named Lumina, dressed in a glamorous Doctor Who villain costume, played along with a stirring soundtrack. During a stunning laser light show, a hand-held laser appeared to be shining from the bow of her instrument and the effect was extraordinary, even in front of a hardened trade audience.
The compere, as was the case on session one, was the affable and ultra-efficient Steve Walls. Walls ticked all the boxes in terms of welcoming bonhomie and made the whole evening pretty seamless in terms of presentation, which is all you can ask of any compere. With a great sound and light team, a superbly efficient stage management crew and a lovely orchestra on stage, led by Barry Robinson, all was set for what proved to be another memorable event.
Fourever are a light opera meets boyband-style vocal quartet who strode on stage clad as if heading for a funeral. The voices and the smiles were certainly brighter than the dark attire. These four excellent vocalists - two from Uruguay and two from Spain - sounded top class. However, Fourever lacked the choreographed movement and sparkling presentational feel that is a surely a prerequisite within the crowded marketplace which exists for acts like this one.
If finding themselves washed up on a desert Island, I’m sure most men would be delighted to discover the only inhabitants were the three-girl act Ukaladia. Clad in grass skirts and little else, these ladies all played ukuleles and sang songs from South Pacific and other music with nautical references. Ukaladia is a good idea realised and the set was very well-performed, but does it constitute a fully-rounded cabaret act? I’m not sure.
Combining dance and magic, James More is said to be high on the shopping lists of many bookers after a recent slice of valuable television exposure. The hot moves, sexy image and frankly amazing speed deflection techniques, all combine to make More the ultimate 21st century variety artist.
The giant screen, which provided such an added dimension at this showcase, gave more than a good idea what the beautiful American pianist and singer Katrina Rose would look like on the small screen. Songs from piano songstress Alicia Keys, were confidently delivered by a singer of the belter variety.
Closing out the first half of the session was a segment from the well-known touring songs from the shows vehicle Beyond the Barricade. All the members of this mini-production are ex-Les Miserables cast members. Excising the songs from a musical and transforming this into a coherent cabaret show format, then performing it in a cabaret fashion, requires special performances from special performers. This production show deserves to be labelled special.
Queen tribute bands come in all shapes and sizes, from click-track kids to downright virtual mime acts. There are few truly live items around and even fewer who can be pitched, promoted and labelled as theatre product. The Bohemians are the real tribute McCoy, with a piano and guitar playing Freddie and three tip-top musicians as Messrs May, Deacon and Taylor. To borrow part of a quotation from the great football manager Brian Clough, I’m not sure if the Bohemians are the best Queen tribute band in the UK, but they are certainly in the top one.
Singer Katy Setterfield shot to fame as Dusty Springfield in the BBC’s answer to Stars In Their Eyes, The One and Only and has appeared since in a Las Vegas Legends tribute show. There is more in Setterfield’s locker of impressions than Dusty - she also gave us Cher and Annie Lennox. Setterfield has a sassy line in crowd approach and some great skill at the piano was demonstrated, during an impressive version of the Lennox composition Why.
Comedy pickpockets owe a great deal to the great Mark Raffles, now an octogenarian who still treads the boards today. Every stage pickpocket I have ever met has started out in magic. After all, the deflection techniques are roughly the same. James Freedman gave us some slick patter and, joined by his bewildered volunteers, provided great fun for the audience. Surely engaging Freedman’s services could provide quite a treat for many cruise crowds.
A vision in a red gown appeared on stage next holding a violin. The undulating, Marilyn Monroe-esque figure produced the desired head-swivel effect from many in the audience. This lady, who goes by the name of Bertie Bow, gave us snippets, some played to comic effect, from the Magic Flute. More Mozart magic followed and all of this made for an odd and quirky listening experience, which was strangely endearing.
Closing out the entire event was the Twist Show where fantasy meets rock’n’roll. Three fifties-style dancers were joined by two backing singers and a Buddy Holly lookalike. A singer then entered announcing that she was Petula Clark and, with the help of the band, this tribute-style show in a box was soon in full swing. Buddy then gave us Rave On, before we were also introduced to an Elvis impersonator, who made his Hound Dog contribution in great style. The Twist Show will be more comfortably presented on a larger stage, but should be perceived as very much an integral part of the tribute/nostalgia genre.
Jonathan Blackburn’s company deserves all the showcase back-slaps for finding the right venue and an excellent sound and light crew to service the event. A comfortable audience is invariably a fully-engaged audience and this really was a treat. It is always hugely encouraging when showcase organisers make the job of attending such events as easy and pleasurable as this one.