... 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 ...

... We'll Meet Again Penarth Sounds of sirens wailing and bombs dropping reminded a mostly mature audience at Cogan's Coronation Club of the more sombre moments of wartime 50 years ago during Smart Alec Productions' authentic VE Day touring production, We'll Meet Again. But any traces of gloom at the start were soon forgotten, with ample time allowed for lots of audience participation in num ...

... Chas 'n' Dave Rock'n'Roil Street Party Hayes A full house at the Beck was quickly in the mood for a good old knees up and nostalgia evening with those cockney rockers, Chas 'n' Dave, launching their latest tour. They were helped by impressive singer Donna Freeman, who got one singing along to forties favourites. There's no song like an old song, someone else's or your own, is the key to the ...

... Shapiro is out of this world Green Room, Cafe Royal Helen Shapiro Helen Shapiro is not only a survivor, with 34 years in the business to prove it, but is one of the most underestimated of British artists. Quite honestly, her show at the Green Room is one of the best I have seen in cabaret for many years from one of our own performers, an hour of varied vocal entertainment enlivened with ...

... National Youth Jan Orchestra Ronnie Scott's Club Bill Ashtons brainchild has been around for some 30 years now, launching the careers of countless jazz and session musicians. Given such longevity, you might expect some easing off in its energies and endeavours, as NYJO heads towards middle age. But on the evidence of this engagement, nothing could be fur ther from the truth. This version of ...

... David Copperfield Isle of Wight I will not be making anything disappear, quipped David Copperfield, as he ran on to a capacity house at Warner's, Bembridge, on the Isle of Wight. He knew, only too well, that many had arrived expecting to see the American illusionist. There was a happy ending. The Stateside star could not have received a bigger reception than the Yorkshire bom David ...

... British Music Hall Society Central Conference Centre The Welsh Prince of Laughter celebrated 50 years of consummate performing recently. Wyn Calvin is one of those giants of British comedy who knows how to work a stage. As a comedian, he is a cross between Robb Wilton, with his wry and extremely dry humour, and like a rather bemused Will Hay, always interrupting everybody else. It is ...

... Jean-Luc Yerles & Claus Berger/Saltare Dance Company/Breezy Babes The Place A synthetic dance concert is how Jean-Luc Yerles and Claus Berger describe their work, KDW/Kulturdressur (extracts) seen in the Resolution! season. In the event, the light-hearted, enjoyable piece of nonsense started off with two animated barrels shuffling across the stage, and finished with the exit of one of the ...

... Red, Blue and Ochre/Soon/A Knot Annulled Queen Elizabeth Hall Celebrating its tenth anniversary year. Union Dance opened a triple bill with Red. Blue and Ochre, choreographed by company dancer David Nurse, to a score by John Marc Gowans. While this work, cited as a metaphor for emotional growth as life progresses, looked tighter than when viewed last year, the choreography is hardly ...

... White Monkey Trip/Seven Sisters Group The Place Middlesex University students took over at The Place with two separate productions and the obvious aim of convincing the audience about some bright new thinking in dance. The group White Monkey Trip, with a piece called II. had the edge over the Seven Sisters Group, and Move a camera dance. While both started promis ingly, the 'Monkeys' sustained ...

... True passion reigns! Canterbury Tosca As Puccini himself said: The mood of Tosca is not romantic and lyric, but passionate, agonising and sinister. Italy's Compagnia d'Opera Italiana di Milano certainly makes it that. Opening at the city's Marlowe as part of an 11 nation tour, the Compagnia is the oldest continu ally touring opera company in Europe, with 2.500 performances spanning 46 years. ...