... Rose-Marie Isle of Wight How times have changed for Rose-Marie. Twelve years ago she was virtually unknown -- unless you watched Punchlines -- and was simply one of several hopeful entertainers working the summer weekday Warner's south coast circuit. The audience tainly loved her and now, eight million albums later, she has begun yet another major British tour. It seemed rather fitting that ...

... Dean Friedman Green Room, Cafe Royal Dean Friedman may be more of a footnote than a major entry in the pop reference books, but he did write what is in my opinion one truly great song. Lucky Stars is a poignant little tale, cleverly constructed, about a husband who has had lunch with his old friend, composed in the form of a duologue in which his wife hesi tantly asks: Did you see Lisa?, ...

... Kodo Sadler's Wells Since their triumphant visit to London in 1993, these macho Japanese drummers from the Sado island community have added formal dance to what was always a choreographed rhythmic assault course. Topped by horsehair head pieces, six aggressive performers maintain the testosterone level in Kenbai, a foot-stamping village rit ual. But with their clumping white trainers, rattling ...

... Charles McPherson Jazz Cafe Charles McPherson is a major player, a jazz musician whose creativity was first tested during a torrid period as a Charles Mingus sideman in the sixties. His alto saxophone sound still recalls that of Charlie Parker, his original inspiration, and there are momentary allusions to the fiercer outpourings of the late Eric Dolphy. Even so, he has his own approach, ...

... Blackpool Magician's Club 44th Annual One Day Convention Blackpool Blackpool is famous for so many things, not least among them the world's biggest annual one-day magic convention that attracts some 3,000 magicians from around the world on the last Sunday in February. While generally this year the magic never sparkled like the illuminations, there were nevertheless some memorable moments. ...

... Building a show among friends Lyric Wayne Dobson and Friends This was the start of four West End Sunday night shows for the likeable Wayne Dobson. While wishing him all the luck in his fight against the medical problem which limits his mobility, there was not too much of that about early on. He had sound problems, one of his guest act tricks hit a snag, and the attention of audience and ...

... Marlene Verplanck UCS Theatre This US singer has been building an audience here through her annual visits and an increasingly impressive rostor of recordings. It is no exaggeration to say that she has garnered fulsome praise from her peers and gained a coterie of very loyal fans. Even so. she has still to make the major breakthrough in Britain that would bring her to the attention of a ...

... Cara shines in top-billing trio Hayes What a Feeling! Vibrant music and dance from the hit shows and top films of the seventies and eighties have been combined into a two-hour song and dance spectacular for this new tour presented by Flying Music. Directed by Charles Augins, whose strongly contemporary choreography plays an important part in maintaining the vigour and enthusiasm of the show, ...

... Those ladylike males BY LISA MARTLAND Whatever definition you use-drag artist, female impersonator-men have been dressing up as women on stage since masked actors performed in the times of ancient Greece, and it is an art that still fascinates audiences today. In Misleading Ladles (Pier Productions for R2, Tuesday, March 5), Denis Quilley took a look at this extraordinary tradi tion, focusing ...

... The Mellowtones Haves This was the Mellowtones' first live performance, but judging by the audience response it won't be the last. From the opening number Dearly Beloved, through to the encore romp on Swing, Brother, Swing, the audience might have been on a Caribbean cruise which just happens to be where the idea of the band was hatched rather than in the snowbound Beck Theatre in Middlesex ...

... A musically acquired taste BY LISA MARTLAND Brian Epstein paid music publisher Dick James a visit in the early sixties and played him a tape of a single by a new band. James took little time in giving his reaction: I think it must be No.l, he said. It is not difficult to guess that the band in question was the Beatles and the song was Please Please Me, the Fab Four's first chart-top ping ...

... One-liners mark change of style Hackney Empire New Act of the Year Having seen all Hackney Empire's New Act of the Year contests since they started back in the eighties, it is interesting to see how the styles have changed On the evidence of the 1996 event, political comedy is out and even the obser vational and recollective styles are moving to the back line. Now we have a preponderance of ...