The Stage

The Magic of Laughter

Published Friday 6 June 2008 at 18:00 by Jane McKell

I go to a summer season variety show with a mixture of trepidation and excitement.

At its worst, it will be a tacky rope of second-rate performers learning or remembering their craft. At best, the evening will be a string of pearls, full of slick entertainment, belly laughter-inducing comedy, surprising magic, terrific musicality and gorgeous dancing, topped by fabulous costumes and great sound and lighting.

I am delighted to say the latter describes The Magic of Laughter. The audience responded with warm whoops of delight, their walk down the pier to this welcoming theatre rewarded tenfold.

Georgia Lee is an experienced, comfortable cabaret artist, leading well-devised choreography for the variety of skills in ensemble numbers to the leggy dancing spectacle of Spellbound.

Great things come in small packages, and diamond geezer Gary Richard’s hilarious, impeccably timed camp comedy did the trick, whilst his opera duo with Georgia Lee captivated.

Phil Lowen was not upstaged, his clever, comedy-anchored production numbers and zany, cleverly costumed Pavarotti and Titanic solo skits rendered the audience helpless with laughter.

Oliver Tabor was the surprise of the night, a slow-burning magic act built to a climax - a mixture of cards, disappearing doves and dancers, levitating tables and skittish high-flying handkerchiefs had the audience audibly asking: “How did he do that?”

Showing youthful promise and strong vocals, Grant Martins and Natasha Barnes were appreciated. However, Britain Has Talent auditionees Lauren Medway (11) and Joe Medway (8) are far too young and frankly not ready to be in a professional show.

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