... Jimmy Webb Pizza on the Park To those of us who know Jimmy Webb only by his songs, and I happen to think that they are some of the best pop numbers ever written, it may come as a surprise to discover that he is a tall, hefty chap with a beard and ponytail and not the This is not to say that Webb's songs lack sensitivity. Of all the writers who came to prominence in the sixties, he is the ...

... Simply superior Chanticleer Theatre Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art This audition presentation by one-year postgraduate students reflected the standards of excellence expected from the Webber Douglas prestigious acting centre. Virtually all the pieces were performed solo, with each stu dent having more than one oppor tunity to impress. Heather Oumont opened the proceedings with her own ...

... The Time of Your Life Torquay A different show on Sunday nights, during the summer, has become the norm for the Babbacombe Theatre. It is always a light-hearted affair with a lot of music, dancing and comedy. This year it is called The Time of Your Life but that takes artistic licence. The cast includes 36 chil dren aged betweem seven and 17, supported by the lively, like able, irreverent and ...

... The Golden Years Eastbourne Summer snows at tne Koyai Hippodrome have been song-sheet style for several years--but not this year. From curtain up on sharp rockin' fifties routines, the pace quickly settles for controlled speed. Although voices rise for several irresistible melodies, there is otherwise no pressure for the audience to do the bulk of the work and there is not much time spent on ...

... Last Night of the Proms Colchester A sure-fire way to turn the normally cynical British into proud patriots is to place them in front of a good orchestra, hand them all a Union Jack and add a sprinkling of rain. Then play Rule Britannia, Jerusalem, Pomp and Circumstance and God Save the Queen. mis years extravaganza in Castle Park wove that potent spell on a large crowd which was undeterred by ...

... A Tribute to Benny Green Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park Regent's Park proved to be the perfect setting for this thoroughly entertaining celebration of the life and career of the late Benny Green, for the jazz saxophonist, lyricist, journalist, broadcaster and great sports lover grew up and lived near the park, and later Decame a rounaing Director ot the theatre's New Shakespeare Company. ...

... The Good Old Days Scarborough End of the pier sketches, combined with slick production numbers and excellent comedy spots, spell box office success for British Stage Productions' shows at the Spa. This is one of three produc tions presented each week at this delightful theatre, and is a top-line feast of traditional seaside entertainment. Top of the bill comic Mark Baylin's tribute to Max ...

... London Jazz Festival Various venues This year's celebration of jazz not only brought a sparkling line-up--including international stars such as Courtney Pine--to the capital, but also branched wider than its title suggested to take in folk and traditional music from around the world. The Queen Elizabeth Hall opening event, however, was jazz in a pure and exhilarating form, paying lavish ...

... Willard White Sings Paul Robeson Queen Elizabeth Hall First, why, when Willard White possesses a voice capable of filling the Royal Opera House and the Coliseum with warm, molasses-dark tone, was it thought necessary to amplify it over loudspeakers? it was the one blot on White's profoundly moving and uplifting tribute to the great Paul Robeson, which otherwise cap tured his humanity, ...

... Donmar Warehouse Sam Brown Blues, soul and rock do indeed have their divas as well as the musical theatre, and Sam Brown, whom somebody described to me recently as the best British singer of her kind, combines all three with considerable distinction. She is of course the daughter of versatile artist Joe Brown and his late wife the popular session singer Vicki Brown. Sam, delight fully ...

... David Essex/The Swans Peterborough It is disconcerting after the traditional stage build-up and ecstatic welcome to find sombre-suited David Essex opening in untypical rap-style with new number I Still Believe. However, he quickly reassured the faithful gathered at The Cresset with a string of familiar romantic hits, and his second new song, She's Gone. But however much he wishes to break ...

... An Evening with Jim Davidson Basingstoke I must confess to not being an avid Jim Davidson fan and noticed that.it was a very laddish audience which watched his show at the Anvil Theatre. Groups of young to middle-aged men were obviously out for a few pints and a dirty laugh and a surprisingly large number of older couples loving every minute of the earthy adult humour made up the remainder ...