The Stage

Warner Music and Entertainment Grand Showcase

Published Friday 14 May 2004 at 16:15 by Mark Ritchie

Agent Alan Warner is the only operator I can think of who provides musical backing for the acts that he books onto his showcases. Warner is a keyboard playing musical director of repute and, accompanied by an orchestra that boasted a very accomplished brass section, Warner was largely responsible for the success of most of the acts on show here. This showcase, aimed as it was at the cruise market, was run without any intervals and at times the actual staging of the event looked a little bit frenetic.

Compering duties were shared between JJ Wallace and Vince Earl. Wallace is a strong vocalist with an authoritative yet sometimes rather plodding style. Earl, who played the part of Ron Dixon on Brookside, is a very engaging comedian who has clearly taken the time and trouble to learn the role of the variety compere properly.

Lorraine Brown is the epitome of what the cruise line cabaret vocalist should be. Brown, who gave us Orange Coloured Sky and a Supremes medley, looks immaculate and sings beautifully and presents her performance with the aid of great stagecraft and an abundance of friendly positive body language.

Husband and wife duo Dazlyn looked smart and quite theatrical at times. The pair brought a rather dramatic and subtlely contrived feel to I Who Have Nothing, although the patter suggested a more basic clubland act. However, the overall impression here was a rather odd yet enjoyable mix of styles which clearly pleased many in the audience.

Solid poker-faced funnyman Maxwell Plumm took his time and pitched his comedic style correctly and accurately at this early evening audience. Plumm is a smart operator on the comedy scene and had some good moments here. He also revealed a good singing voice with a creditable stab at the Neil Diamond song Hello Again.

Straight out of left field,as the Americans might say, was an artist who is simply known as Ching. This young lady, originally from Beijing in China, played the violin and gyrated to the music a la Vanessa-Mae. With the aid of a pair of snazzy and extremely snug trousers, Ching certainly delivered the sex appeal that is clearly the big selling point here. Unfortunately a faulty radio control receiver rather spoilt the overall musical effect but I strongly suspect that many a red-blooded brummie in the audience was far more interested in the look of this young lady rather than her violin fingering technique.

Jennifer Robb is an elegantly gowned vocalist with a chatty style. Robb gives off the feel of someone trained in musical theatre and the dramatic style was most noticeable here. The voice was pleasant and true and a version of The Greatest Love of All was the musical highlight .

“I realise that most people would rather breathe in bus fumes than watch magic tricks,” intoned patter magician Dain Cordean before enthralling everyone who happened to be watching his particular brand of magic. Of course the real trick with this type of performer is the presentational aspect and Cordean his got this down to a tee. He is slick, smart and, in short, a very sharp operator.

Smart Move are one of only a handful of truly rounded British cabaret duos working what remains of the better end of the market today. Sharp harmonies, strong falsettos and a sprinkling of humour are on offer here from this male duo. An excellent Stylistics medley was totally eclipsed by the sheer quality of a great version of Rhythm of Life from Sweet Charity.

A guitar, a mandolin and even a bouzouki were all played with great skill and charm by Ian Lockyer. Lots of instantly recognisable string favourites on offer here such as Zorba’s Dance and even a spirited Donald, Where’s Yer Troosers to sing along to from a performer who should prove popular onboard a ship.

A waffling, rambling style of comedy was delivered by quirky gag-man Buddy Lee. Perhaps more familiar as the long standing compere at the Talk of the Coast club in Blackpool, Lee took a while to get going here. However, the clever, almost conspiritorial, line with his audience certainly worked a treat for a comedian who cut his teeth in the Yorkshire clubs and has more recently developed a very interesting style.

Illusionist Chris De Rosa and his female partner most be one of the leaders in this field. Some very expensive and well built big box illusions were presented here and I could not help thinking that here we were seeing one of the few real quality acts in this field.

It seems that even the traditional cruise market is dabbling in the tribute sector these days and three such acts followed in rapid succession. Firstly I am not too sure whether tribute artists are meant to look and sound like their intended tribute. If this is the case than Stan Terry is at least halfway there sounding as he does uncannily like Rod Stewart. Fans of the rocker would have been delighted here by a guy who gave us You Wear It Well and First Cut Is the Deepest.

Next on the tribute trail was that superb cabaret vocalist Tracey Quinn. This artist has been all over the world as a professional entertainer of repute. Quinn gave us her tribute to Anastacia, which was impressive in both lookalike and soundalike quality.

Bringing up the rear in this section was Kenny Rogers impersonator Peter White, who arrived complete with American drawl to introduce songs like The Gambler and Lady. White was equally as impressive as the two that had gone before him in this section of the show.

Three-guy vocal harmony act the Gillettes came next and entered very smartly in eye-catching green suits. This group has been around for a while now and it was nice to hear songs from The Four Tops and The Drifters sung without a backing track in sight.

Time for some comedy with the appearance of Scouse funnyman Hal Bayer. Due I suspect to the lateness of the hour the clever Bayer quickened his delivery ever so slightly and his Liverpool gags worked very well. Familiar and cosy comedy territory here from a comfortably assured comedian with plenty to offer the cruise market.

Worcester-based vocalist David Lawrence gave us Barry Manilow’s One Voice and a version of The Impossible Dream. This young man arrived armed with a very theatrical mode of delivery and had the look of an actor performing sophisticated cabaret. I could not imagine Lawrence roughing it by servicing the more basic parts of the social club circuit but with a voice and acting talent like he has, perhaps he will not need to.

Anna Jean Reay is a simply outstanding talent. This Newcastle-upon-Tyne based vocaliste feels the music and adapts her vocal talents to suit completely disparate styles of music. For example I do not think that I have seen too many artists switch so effortlessly from the Ella Fitzgerald arrangement of Cheek to Cheek to a rendition of O Mio Babbino Caro by Puccini. In short, Reay is a performer to get truly excited about.

Similarly Lancashire vocalist David Kidd could also prove popular in the cruise market. This good looking and extremely well dressed young man gave us a good version of the Enrique Iglesias song Hero and came across as a very convincing and entertaining addition to Warner’s roster of cruise entertainers.

Also hitting the right note was experienced looking vocalist Michelle Montuori. This one women charm offensive gave us a well sung version of That Ole Devil Called Love and came across as a real personality girl who knowns the score in the better class cabaret market.

Penultimate act on the bill was Geordie tenor vocalist Tony St John who performed Unchained Melody and a version of the Malcolm Roberts song Love Is All before he launched into the best known aria from Turandot, Nessun Dorma. In my view St John’s vocal performance was uncertain in tone and occasionally questionable in relation to vocal pitch. In addition and compunding these problems was the abundance of vibrato in the delivery which also made very uncomfortable listening and produced a highly unsatisfactory performance in my view.

Bringing a generally splendid showcase to a close was Lincolnshire-based Queen tribute band Monarchy. One Vision and Under Pressure were on offer here from four guys who, while not right at the pinnacle of the tribute field must be climbing pretty high towards it.

Warner, his orchestra and his staff should all be pretty pleased with themselves in successfully staging a show such as this in fairly cramped surroundings. The stage management aspect could have been improved upon but all in all the event was a real treat to attend.

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