Variety At Night

Published Wednesday 9 August 2006 at 11:00 by Robin Duke

Compere and producer Tony Jo believes in Blackpool so much it almost hurts. Having seen Qdos Productions unceremoniously cancel its Grand Theatre plans, he has stepped in with a line-up so keen to keep the tradition of summer shows going you want to shake each one of them by the hand.

Only headliner Johnnie Casson is anything like a household name and his brilliantly consistent underrated, self-deprecating material never fails to be a winner.

Each week features a mystery guest and to launch the show it was seventies chart star Scott Fitzgerald with a trio of emphatically delivered songs.

Steve Royle was at the Edinburgh Festival, so in his place came Blackpool favourite Carl Schofield in a dayglo yellow suit and every inch the traditional stand-up with a winning way and a sensibly short set.

Veteran vocalist Claude Powell presented an ultra smooth trio of soulful songs as well as joining the show-stealing Leanne Fury for a Nat King and Natalie Cole duet. In her own spot Leanne reveals how much she has progressed since winning a North Pier talent contest. Stage confidence, a powerful voice and looks to die for make her a certain name for the future.

Guy Barrett is likewise a star in the making - with an impressive set of large scale illusions in his own set and an excellent new one incorporating the six Starlette Dancers who are choreographed by his assistant Lisa Clarke through a collection of adventurous routines.

Tony Jo links the acts, slipping into a Tommy Cooper routine and forever singing the praises of the Grand and Blackpool. More power to him and the entire cast of this enterprising show.