... Sondheim First & Last Covent Garden Festival: Peacock Theatre Stephen Sondheim is 70 and suddenly the world seems autumnal. Those witty lyrics with warm, open American vowels for 'love', 'alone' and 'tomorrow' now resonate more poignantly on the complex melodic line. This BBC birthday concert, devised by Julia Makenzie for future broadcasting on Radio 3, celebrated overtures and finales the ...

... Great seaside show Blackpool Eclipse As timing goes, opening the third annual summer edition of Blackpool Pleasure Beach Globe's unique circballet at exactly the same moment that England kicked off against Germany in Euro 2000 was less than perfect. But though Joe O'Connor's dramatic score is the same as last season, almost half the cast are new to the production. For several of them it is the ...

... Bass Northern Star Trail Wakefield Unlike last year, when there was a superbly varied variety bill, the 2000 final consisted of five solo singers and a female duo, all of whom opted to use tracks rather than live accompaniment. Consequently, preference for style rather than voice and presentation must have come into the judges' deliberation, though they coincided in the case of the winner, ...

... Jet Harris and Mike Berry Isle of Wight/Touring There was a full house at the Medina Theatre, Newport, for the first local stage performance of bass guitarist Jet Harris following his move to the island. At the end of his pulsating set he received a standing ovation. Thirty years on from the Shadows, Hams' bass guitar magic is still very evident, particu larly on hits like Diamonds, Scarlett ...

... Combination hits right note Nanci Griffith Royal Albert Hall Singer/songwriter Nanci Griffith and the London Symphony Orchestra made an intriguing and successful combination as the country star performed a varied concert including some of her best-known numbers. Conductor Andrew Pryce Jackman and Griffith worked together to transform guitartesed arrangements into the symphonic I songs recorded ...

... The Cutting Edge Bridewell This was the first in a series of summer concerts which form part of the Bridewell's Sondheim Season. Sub-titled 'Music for a New Millennium', it was intended to reflect the excitement and range of current music theatre writing, and featured the music and lyrics of Jason Robert Brown (shows: Parade, Songs for a New World), Adam Guettel (Saturn Returns, Floyd ...

... Punk's roar down to a mumble BY JOHN MARTLAND Those Radio 2 listeners of a certain age who responded angrily to a recently leaked document which revealed that anyone born before 1945 can no longer regard themselves as part of the station's target audience, will no doubt have steered well clear of Anarchy in the UK (BBC Scotland for R2, Saturday, June 3). In the first of this twopart story ...

... Why Logan's Lauder Compiled By PETER HEPPLE Jimmy Logan takes time out from his 'churchstorming' to play Harry Lauder at Pitlochry Jimmy Logan has just returned from his first cruise ship engagement. It's a funny life. he said, which is just as well as that was the title of my show, which I performed in two parts. It is also the title of his autobiography, now available in paperback. ...

... Make 'Em Laugh Shanklin, Isle of Wight This is a welcome innovation for Shanklin Theatre's summer entertainment programme. It upholds real seaside holiday traditions, particularly with an abundance of comedy and even a few sketches. The seven-strong company work well together, and the production numbers are really effective. James Pellow hosts the show and proves there is much more to him ...

... The Big Big Laughter Show Blackpool Producer Duggie Chapman's contribution to the North Pier's summer season features The Grumbleweeds at the top of the bill. Founder members Graham Walker and Robin Colvill are joined by established solo act Tony Jo in a trio that has become a firm Blackpool favourite. They are the perfect combination of fairly straight man, natural clown and talented ...

... New McBroom sweeps through Pizza on the Park Amanda McBroom Returning to London's premier cabaret spot, Amanda McBroom's programme consisted almost entirely of her own songs. The sole exception was Marieke, one of Jacques Brel and Eric Blau's most potent numbers, which received a spectacularly theatrical reading. McBroom is in a completely different class now from most of the other cabaret ...

... Work's red letter day London Coliseum Nixon in China Doubts might be expressed as to whether John Adams' opera about the historic visit in 1972 of President Nixon to meet Mao Tse-tung in China is still of relevance or interest to present-day audiences. The first London staging of Peter Sellars' production, almost as significant in operatic terms as the meeting itself, proves that it is. Times ...