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Chris
Cross the Magician presents
The Greatest Show on The Tyne!
Newcastle
Tyne Theatre & Opera House
Friday 2nd
September 2016
Chris
Cross has curated a show that brings back the spirit of the original music hall
shows. It had the flavour of a big Saturday night special on ITV like Saturday Night At The Palladium. The big
difference with a TV show is that this is live, no edits or retakes can be
permitted. The danger that is hereditary to the format adds to the excitement
in the show. Indeed within the mixed bag of 15 acts, there was something for
everyone but the acts that came across best were the ones living dangerously.
The
doors opened at 7 and straight away an act was on stage to entertain the
audience as they found their seats. In other words the show had 3 ½ hours of
entertainment for the £12 ticket price, no wonder the crowd were on their feet
at the end.
The
opening entertainer was Chris Johns. His selection of lounge classics wouldn’t
be out of place on a cruise ship, or in one of the better bars in Benidorm. He
certainly set the mood for the appearance of our host Chris Cross at the
published start time of 7:30 – it was a nice touch.
Chris
appears in a trap pulled by a pony, called Marley, like the star arriving in a
panto. Chris had a big task to do in pulling the show together with both
introductions and some of his own act. During the course of the night members
of the audience were to assist in card tricks and tying him up in a strait-jacket.
Both feats showed his skills as an entertainer.
The
Cathouse Belles Can-Canned a short dance routine before the Talk of the Tyne legend Bobby Pattinson
came on for a rare appearance. It is more than simple stand up as this marvellous
raconteur delivers his stories about the Geordie dialect and Working Men’s Club
doormen. The years of experience deliver a class performance that left one
wanting more after his short set.
The
evening had a number of short specialist acts coming on to wow the
audience. The first of these was Bruce
Airhead who literally went inside a balloon much to the amazement of the
audience. This was followed by Rosy Bloomers with her hoola hoops in the first
half. The trainer of circus and aerial performers was to appear in the second
half too with an awesome routine from a hoop hanging from the ceiling. (See http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/news-dynamix-performance-as-action.html
for details about her lessons in Gateshead)
Before
the North East Theatre Guide started we had witnessed Pete Peverley delivering a
one-man show about the act known as the Little
Waster. It was a very thoughtful piece about the performer, Bobby Thompson,
that reached the top but refused to compromise before his death in 1988.
Tonight Pete plays Bobby as an angel
that’s come back to Earth to reflect upon the state of affairs that we
currently have. In the style of Bobby we have a funny monologue about how we
are still in debt and how life in heaven still suits Bobby.
Magic
was a part of the mix and Mark Raffles appeared to do an amusing routine with
interlocking rings before Liverpool’s Diamond and Jade
appeared. They performed some larger scale illusions. It is one thing to see a
lady disappear into a box and then see the box pulled apart and/or have plates
and polls shoved in on tv. Seeing it live still leaves you wondering…how? My
hat goes off to Jade in achieving the apparently impossible and disappearing in
front of us.
The
second act of the Greatest Show On The Tyne carried on with the same Vaudeville
spirit. BBC Radio Newcastle’s
breakfast host Alfie Joey came on with his stage partner Cal Halbert as The
Mimic Men. Their act of many voices had been a hit during the recent series of Britain’s Got Talent. They
finished their impressions with Frozen’s Let
It Go sung by the stars of tv and film. Nat Lunatrick then appeared to show
his millinery manipulation skills as hats rolled up and down his arms
delightfully.
Another
voice from BBC Radio Newcastle came in the form of Durham comic Sue Sweeney. Her
tales of nights out with the girls and the difficulty of living with her
husband elicited laughs from the audience.
Singing
one of his own songs, Geoff Mull from Gateshead showed that he has a
powerful voice and his short time on stage was enjoyable.
After
so many entertaining acts the show closed with a grand finale that had the wow
factor. Acropolis, winners of TV’s Let’s Get Gold, are a young and extremely
talented group of acrobats that were truly amazing. The audience held their
breath as they made human pyramids. The one part of their act I didn’t expect
was the human skipping rope.
The
show was a success. A theatre full of people were given a show of real variety.
From jaw dropping acts of physical
endurance through to funny comics, the show had plenty of high points. Everyone
will have their favourite moments as there was something for everyone.
Personally I enjoyed Pete Peverley’s update of
Bobby Thompson’s act, I wanted to hear more from Bobby Pattinson, I enjoyed the
magic and acrobatics. In short, it was a good night out and great value too.
Hopefully Chris Cross will return with another large scale show in the future.
Chris
does have a smaller Quayside Cabaret night at Newcastle’s Prima Ristorante. A 3
course meal and a cabaret show will set you back a mere £20. The next 2 shows will be on the 22nd
September and 17th November. Further details can be found at https://www.facebook.com/Quayside-Cabaret-Club-103843086345048/.
Read
the original North East Theatre Guide preview:
http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/preview-greatest-show-on-tyne-at.html
This review was written by Stephen
Oliver for Carliol
Photography (https://twitter.com/CarliolPhoto). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen
@panic_c_button or like Carliol Photography on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/carliolphotography
.
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