... Open Mic Awards Comedy Store Six minutes is not that long to make an impression on stage but that is exactly what the contestants of this new stand-up competition had. Performing between a host of Comedy Store regulars is a daunting task, though at least four of the eight hopefuls played the confidence and origi nality required for professional comedy. Both Jocelyn Jee (deservedly the ...

... Warren Vache/Roy Williams Wigmore Hall At first sight, this was just another impromptu gathering of local main-streamers, fronted by the amiable American cometist. Warren Vache. Happily, it soon became clear that care and attention had been devoted to making this a concert fit to be ranked with the best in the Jazz Encounters series. Vache likes to find rarities to play. On a day when ...

... Stephen Kowalczyk Pizza Express A New Englander, Kowalczyk first set his sights on attaining fame as a songwriter. When his demo tape hit the desk of Ahmet Ertegun, the legendary producer who founded Atlantic Records, something clicked and Kowalczyk became a performer. His debut CD on Atlantic, made in 1995 with Alan Broadbent on piano, earned him plenty of attention. This young American ...

... A tent does not a circus make Islington Festival: Highbury Reids Que-Cir-Que It cannot be denied that the performers-- Hyacinthe Reisch, Jean-Paul Lefeuvre and the feline Emmanuelle Jacqueline-- in France's avant garde circus Que-Cir-Que are very good at what they do. Indeed most of the audience loved every minute. So why did I find them so interminably dull? An hour and a half is a very ...

... The lime of Your life Torquay What energy there was pumping out of the Babbacombe Theatre in Colin Matthew's Sunday season show. Non-stop music, singing, dancing, and comedy entertained and enchanted an enthusiastic full house for two hours. What is different about Matthew's scintillating production, beautifully lit and staged with colourful costumes, is that apart from Panache (Gerry Law and ...

... Farewell Extravaganza Ayr With Wonderwest World ceasing to exist at the end of this season, in prelude for re-birth in 1999 as a Haven site, this was the last summer for the irvhouse entertainment programme given by companies of special Redcoats. The value to the profession of this scheme, in its fourth year at Wonderwest, as a training ground for young performers will be keenly felt the loss ...

... Marian hits the target Bernard Bale visits the Maid Marian Club near Skegness, which has acquired a firm following with its spectacular shows On the east coast the biggest of reputations has to be that of the Maid Marian Club, which is part of the Robin Hood complex near Skegness. While most clubs are happy to provide a compere, disco and visiting acts, the Maid Marian continues to maintain ...

... Puttin' on the Ritz? Compiled By Peter Hepple Blackpool offers the very best in light entertainment. But do its guest houses match this output? Mark Ritchie goes hotel-hopping On a flying visit to Britain's light entertainment capital you are naturally spoilt for choice at the range of entertainment on offer. Along with the rest of the theatre entertainment programme nationwide, Blackpool's ...

... Blackpool Tower Circus '98 Blackpool Perhaps it is because its South Shore rival has changed from being the Superdome to the Globe but the ornate, century-old Tower Circus has dusted itself down, re-thought its approach and come out smelling of much more than sawdust. For starters, the now unique water finale is the theme for the entire second half, with a custom-made galleon now domin ating ...

... The Flanagan and Allen Story Leeds/Touring In this tribute to the Crazy Gang staged by Nostalgia Productions, Chris Fox plays the immaculate Chesney Allen and narrates the story, from Bud Winthrop's stage debut as a boy conjuror at the old Shoreditch Empire in 1908, to the Crazy Gang's final bow at the Victoria Palace in 1962. Fox's partner Johnny Barrs (who wrote the script) makes a ...

... Teamwork and I comedy special Cromer Seaside Special '98 Seaside Special at the Pavilion comes of age this year with a 21st anniversary production. This is a fully staged, speci- ally designed production which, despite a small playing area and auditorium, is filled with spectac ular sets, stunningly lit they are, as always, a credit to designer Ian Westbrook and Jess Thomas (lighting). ...

... I Only Want to Be with You Bournemouth/Touring A Dusty Springfield story may seem somewhat premature--in fact, the original production was premiered in Melbourne six months prior to the release of her last single--but it allows us to enjoy again in live performance a cavalcade of songs associated with the star for more than 35 years. An early summer season at the Pier Theatre hardly does it ...