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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Bruce Dessau's rating
Reader rating
Website: www.showcase-live.com
Email: showcaselive@yahoo.co.uk
One of the great mysteries in comedy is whatever happened to Lenny Henry’s career? He is a terrifically charismatic entertainer and should be on television every week, not just when hotels need advertising. Henry turned 50 last Friday and is at a crossroads, recently announcing that he would play Othello with theatre company Northern Broadsides.
But he also clearly wants to keep his stand-up fanbase happy, which is one reasons why he decided to flex his funny muscles by compering this BBC comedy night. Striding on stage wearing a smart suit and a trademark broad grin he hit the ground running. Only Henry could deliver self-deprecating asides about feeling like a slave being auctioned off and raise the roof.
His best moment was old faithful Hound Dog Smith, his spot-on behatted blues spoof. Music cast a big shadow over proceedings. Another riff found him discussing the changing agenda of rap, comparing the early melodic days with the politics of NWA, who were so militant they might even have spotted a conspiracy theory in Humpty Dumpty. Anyone hoping for insights into his 24‑year marriage to “the Vicar of Dimbleby” would have been disappointed. A relationships section fell back on a worn-out Heather Mills gag that has been circulating for ever. As the laughs tailed off it was muscular personality not strong material that kept the crowd onside.
The rest of the bill was decidedly mixed. Young Londoner Kojo has created a small buzz in America but was hackneyed and derivative. Multicultural ensemble United Colours Of Comedy had ambitious streetwise sketches but few original punchlines. Only after the interval did the ever-improving Shappi Khorsandi and the consistently gnomic Milton Jones save the day.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
