The Stage

The Joe Longthorne Summer Spectacular

Published Monday 4 August 2008 at 10:25 by Robin Duke

This venue has always been good to Joe Longthorne and this summer he is returning the favour. The opening night of his first summer season here years ago saw an emotional standing ovation - and while that’s rather de rigueur these days, he is clearly as glad to be back as his audience is to see him looking and sounding on top form.

When he heard the theatre’s future was in doubt, he vowed to bring back the kind of show which put it at the forefront of seaside entertainment - and he’s kept that promise with a twice weekly full production joining the venue’s already busy schedule.

 A full orchestra and two backing singers are luxuries few entertainers afford themselves in these credit crunch days, but for Longthorne they are as essential as the gamut of impressions he includes alongside his own impressive vocals.

Granted it’s only fans of a certain age who will be able to tick all those voices off, but a canon which includes Arthur Askey and Willie Nelson, Max Bygraves and Barry Manilow as well as duets by Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones and Dorothy Squires with Ken Dodd. Who knows, maybe the promised Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd tributes will come one day - but until then the entire Rat Pack, Presley, Neil Diamond et al will do just fine.

Comedian Johnnie Casson never disappoints. Instantly likeable, traditional delivery, perfect comic timing, excellent material and refreshingly irreverent, he is the stuff of which season shows are made.

A rota of female singers provides the distaff element to the bill. Motherwell’s Claire Brady provided the opening night’s short set in confident style.

Buddy Lee acquitted himself well as a very last minute replacement for billed host Tony Jo and once the colourful Kab and Co dancers familiarise themselves a bit more with their routines, they will be able to make more of their North Pier debut.