... Where the Rivers Meet Sadler's Wells For almost 20 years, Grand Union has successfully followed linked careers as a multi-instrumentalist ensemble and a backbone for larger-scale community shows. Both mix traditions and cultures, serving them up for as wide an audience as possible. As a show this falls into the community half and as such it must be praised for its vision and scale. Big band ...

... Jazz Triple Bill Royal Opera House Birmingham Royal Ballet s London season showcased three outstanding David Bintley programmes, his take on Petipas Giselle and the eternal summer of Arthur: Part I, plus this delicious evening of Jazz ballets. From an audience viewpoint, it opened uncertainly with a revival of Balanchine's Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, taken directly from the musical comedy ...

... Sunday Night Live London Palladium It is always good to see this vast stage used for what it is best noted for variety and this one- off bill was indeed strong, mixing comedy with music. Producers Darren Lord and Tony Edwards balanced the blend of headliners with excerpts from West End productions past and present and one or two up and coming names. Kenny Cantor is one of Britain's best and ...

... Morag McLaren Pizza on the Park During her show celebrating the work of American Dorothy Fields, Morag McLaren marvels at the versatility of a lady who was able at different stages in her career to write lyrics for such contrasting songs as I Can't Give You Anything But Love and Nobody Does It Like Me. And yet the audience could really say just the same of McLaren, for this thoroughly ...

... Consummate ease Strand Hank Marvin Now domiciled in Australia and having enjoyed hit record status throughout four decades, Hank Marvin shows no sign of fatigue on this the 50th date of a two- month European tour. Smartly attired, he demon- strats his mastery of the tremolo sound on the Fender Stratocaster by executing clear harmonious guitar picking on a whole range of melodies. The ...

... 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 ...

... 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 ...

... 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. ...

... 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 ...