... CAA Annual Ball Marriot Hotel In this house-full evening of speeches and cabaret, several names were guests of honour, including Peter Elliott, Peter D'Arcy, John Roscoe, Ann Zahl and The Stage's Peter Hepple, with CAA president Ruth Madoc presiding over proceedings with her witty and entertaining opening speech. The same, alas, cannot be said for that otherwise brilliant actress Jean ...

... Something original at last BY LISA MARTLAND Although my policy towards reviewing radio is always to 'accentuate the positive', the standard of recent comedy offerings across the networks has frequently tested my patience. How pleasant it was then to discover two examples of much tighter. innovative and downright funnier writing during the last couple of weeks. Radio 1 is hardly regarded as a ...

... Boring and trashy pair Resolution!: The Place As they sense--sometimes/2000-2 Rahel Vonmoos' solo 'As they sense--sometimes' purports to be about someone now--caught between urge and intuition. In practice we see a woman in an orange plastic dress thrashing about to inaudible whispers and odd clicks. As the piece continues, bursts of fast movement give way to passages in which Vonmoos stands ...

... Jimmy Carol Castleford Comedian Jimmy Carol attracted a capacity audience to Ferry Fryston Club in a show which also featured new north east-based band Jade. Carol, now a cult figure in the north's comedy circles, had a huge crowd to work to, already fully warmed up by this most lively of dance acts. Throughout their fast-moving set, Jade's hyperactive line-up of vocalists and musicians ...

... Sounds 18 Croston This 18-piece has been plying its trade in the north west very successfully for more than 20 years. Performing in the spacious Croston Suite of the Mill Hotel, the band opened with Basie Straight Ahead, followed by This Way, two numbers which demon strated the awesome power of ten brass to perfection. Obviously the temperature and the tempo had to be lowered and this was ...

... The sign of the times When a big name band, British or otherwise, tours this country nowadays it is no surprise to discover that the operation is organised with military precision. There is sure to be an entourage of people following close on its heels, not to mention all kinds of sound and lighting equipment etc. Amazing then, that in March 1958 Buddy Holly and the Crickets travelled the ...

... Circus Ronaldo London International Mime Festival: Queen Elizabeth Hall Amazingly, some people in the audience, who perhaps do not get out much, seemed to be actually enjoying Circus Ronaldo's dismal show. Billed as a magical cirque a I'ancienne, I had hoped for something to rival France's enchanting--and exquisitely costumed Cirque Rasposo which was in the festival two years ago. This ...

... Julie Connelli Talk of London It is good to see the Talk of London presenting a solo artist of considerable stature. Judi Connelli is big in Australia, where she is a recognised performer in musical theatre, and more recently in the States. Having said that, I must admit that she is not entirely to my taste, being one of those per formers who seems to be march ing cabaret in my younger days a ...

... Sisters' act sounds superb Donmar Warehouse Sibling Revelry--Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway The Donmar Warehouse is an ideal space for the talents of the Callaway sisters, making their first joint appearance in London. Ann is the tall, stately one, who writes great songs and makes CDs with such smoking jazz guns as Wynton Marsalis Christian McBride and Kenny Barron. Liz is the ...

... BMHS Central Conference Centre Colin Devereaux, otherwise known as East End fave drag act Dockyard Doris, starred in and presented what turned out to be an all-male variety show rather than a revue. Tony Webb is a strong and pleasing vocalist, showing that there is life after wearing a yellow jacket in TV's Hi-De-Hi! for years. His boyish charm won over the ladies in the audience. Thinking ...

... Toast of the Town Margate Girling Productions is again taking up residence with its summer show at the Queen's Hall, Winter Gardens. Though shrunk from one of the longest running seasonal shows in the country to three days a week, for a month and a half, no concessions have been made to sparkle, fun and quality. Toast of the Town is one of its best, again thanks to director Jackie Hart and ...

... Displaying all the elements Barbican Concert Hall Taj Mahal Born in New York in 1940, and christened Henry Saint Clair Fredericks prior to adopting his chosen name, this artist released his first solo album in 1964 and has been recording and performing on a regular basis ever since. His somewhat unorthodox approach and chameleon charac teristics have led him to develop a style encompassing ...