... Brick Lane Music Hall Rose Marie Rose Marie is a sort of one-off in showbiz. A last throwback to the great torch singers of the past such as Dorothy Squires, Shirley Bassey and even the legendary Ethel Merman. In fact, with her voice, she makes Merman seem positively quiet. Nevertheless, she held this short set at Brick Lane with style and had a more than an enthusi astic audience, made up ...

... London Palladium Clive Baldwin Some tribute shows miss their mark because the artist fails to sound, or look, anything like the person they are paying tribute to. But there was no such problem here. Clive Baldwin sounds just like Al Jolson. Billed as the World's Greatest Minstrel, Baldwin was bom in Kingston-upon-Hull but has lived in Miami for over 20 years. During this period he has appeared ...

... BMHS Central Conference Centre Hollywood has a lot in common with British music hall. In Tinsel Town it's called or was called vaudeville. But the magic of Hollywood never ceases. Not for nothing did the great comic and writer Oscar Levant once say: Strip away the false tinsel of Hollywood and underneath you will find the real tinsel. But at the British Music Hall Society May meeting we ...

... Less calibre Bournemouth Chas and Dave and Elvis Following their big success with Chas and Dave and Joe at Bournemouth Pier Theatre last year. Hurricane Entertainments again presents the popular rockney pair for an 11 week summer season-but without co-star Joe Brown. So when compared, the current product has less calibre. Nevertheless, Chas and Dave (along with drummer Mick) performed in ...

... Great flawless performances ROH Siegfried The ROH's new production of Wagner's Siegfried fully lives up to the wonder and exhilaration of the preceding Ring operas. The cycle's imaginative grip tightens. Director Richard Jones and designer Nigel Lowery again fuse a myriad of emblematic allusions into a seething, beady-eyed, child like universe in which the young stake their claim to the future ...

... Minstrel Magic Great Yarmouth This all-singing, all dancing Minstrel spectacular high-kicked the early summer season at Jim Davidson'r Wellington Theatre into top gear. From the humble origins of the Mississippi Delta through to the brash ballads of Barry Manilow, from the rhythms of Latin America to the wonders of the West End, the enthusiastic audience lapped up a musical wonderland ...

... End of the Pier Show Bournemouth This modest production suffered from curious marketing, with tickets more highly priced than the forthcoming international star show at a neighbouring theatre. As a result, I sat in an auditorium which was three quarters empty. However, veteran comedy pair Gordon and Bunny Jay, assured from vast experience, quickly had the couple of hundred present laughing ...

... Forces Sweethearts Great Yarmouth An evening of wartime nostalgia and fine songs was enjoyed at St George's as Forces Sweethearts provided an evocative trip down a particularly poignant musical memory lane. The songs of Vera Lynn, Anne Shelton, Jessie Matthews, Gracie Reids and Marlene Dietrich were some magical moments from this Singers Unlimited show. Featuring the powerful voice of former ...

... Django Meets the Duke Purcell Room Django Reinhardt, the Belgian gypsy guitarist, brought a unique blend of technical prowess and sensitivity to his improvisations. Ian Cruickshank's Gypsy Jazz, the guitarist/leader complemented by second guitar and bass, is rooted in Reinhardt's performance style and he works tirelessly to keep the great man's music alive. This performance provided an ...

... The Ultimate Tribute Show High Wycombe The only real tribute in this Ultimate Tnbute Show comes from The Royal Family's portrayal of Freddie Mercury and Queen. Topping the bill. The Royal Family makes the wait worthwhile. It is only when they finally take the stage that the two other acts on the bill pale into insignificance. Lee Wardman's vocals, poise and presentation as Freddie Mercury are ...

... Vanessa Mae Liverpool Vanessa Mae has a shot at a huge range of contemporary musical styles in her current tour. She was backed by a four piece pop band and a string quartet, the latter performing behind a gauze curtain. Two male tap dancers come on from time to time, but they are extraneous. It is asking a bit after all, for Mae to tap while playing, although she does manage the odd sashaying ...

... Bigwigs Agency Showcase Salford Manchester based Bigwigs Agency presented its annual showcase in the spacious Willows Variety Centre, in front of an audience of club bookers and agents from throughout the UK. Chatty commere Lauren Kennedy worked very hard to link the show, in which an awful lot of equipment had to be shifted back and forth. Kennedy, with partner Jeff, forms the act Seaside ...