Monday, March 25, 2013 For up-to-the-minute news and information dailyecho.co.uk 15

entertainment with Lorelei Reddin, Entertainments Editor . The ultimate guide to what’s on in the south: dailyecho.co.uk/leisure [email protected] 023 8042 4877

REVIEWS SPECIAL Calendar Girls, A Double Bill, Lee Players, The Maskers Theatre, The Crofton Hall Theatre, Crofton Community Centre, Company, Stubbington Maskers Studio, Shirley A GROUP of extraordinary women in a very ordinary Yorkshire Forward to the Right Women’s Institute challenge each other to produce a charity calendar with a difference. LILY Ann Green’s retelling of This was a valiant effort by Lee Players to bring the feel-good the Joan of Arc story is comedy to life and was performed with solid dialogue delivery graced by two strong at a reasonable pace, although it would have worked better performances. George played for honesty rather than laughs. Moody looks perfect as the Calendar Girls is famous for the nudity themes, but this is maid, but Eric Petterson only actually a minor part of the play. The crux comes from the excels as her English jailer. relationships of strong women, their love and admiration of He evolves from ignorant John (whose death inspires the calendar) and the empathy that hostility to a charming characters evoke in the audience. The humour develops from friendship with his charge, this. and makes us feel the true The photo-shoot was tastefully presented, power of her tragedy. genuine camaraderie between the women was Debut director Jo displayed and the community theatre audience Iacovou creates some found much to entertain them. powerful moments ANNE WAGGOTT and promises to develop quickly.

Summer Holiday, Contractions Fareham Musical Society, WITH less than a Ferneham Hall, Fareham week to present a FIFTYyears after the release of the film featuring rehearsed reading – Cliff Richard and The Shadows’ hits, we follow the romantic due to cast illneess – adventures of four London Transport bus mechanics as they director Paul Green gets full drive a converted double-decker across Europe. value from Mike Bartlett’s Wezley Sebastian directs a very talented cast and the songs satire on modern corporate have survived the test of time very well. The audience of all mores. ages was noticeably swaying and foot-tapping from first note Samer Fugeira gives a to last, with musical director Rhys Scrivener’s keyboard a fair beautifully poised debut as match for Ray Wills’ Stratocaster guitar licks. the employee who eventually Leads Gareth Daniel (Don) and Soraya Scrivener (Barbara) succumbs to the unctuous, PITCH PERFECT: are both exceptional, with equally-strong support from Sarah smiling concern and Frontman Burrell and the ubiquitous Graeme Clements (agent Jerry) who grotesque “suggestions” of you half-expect to be selling ice-creams in the interval! nightmare HR Manager Sue Kelly Jones. Choreographers Natalie and Kerry Cleave had the cast drilled Dashper, whose superbly to a very high standard and sets, costumes, sound and lighting suggestive performance were top-notch. Congratulations, as Cliff might say! keeps us hooked. ‘UTTERLY BRILLIANT’ ALAN JOHNS HAM QUENTIN

Stereophonics, out to. Getting the set under was pitch perfect as ever. Portsmouth Guildhall way with Indian Summer, hits Closing the main set with an like Maybe Tomorrow and The emotionally charged Local IT’S always a pleasure Bartender And The Thief went Boy In The Photograph, there to experience Kelly down a storm. was a near stampede before Jones and co in Handbags And Gladrags the band took to the stage action. was a definite omission from again and performed Mr I’ve seen Stereophonics live the nearly two-hour set but a Writer as part of a stunning seven or eight times over the rocking sold-out crowd loved finale. last 15 years or so and they are every second of Have A Nice As usual, the night ended always the same – utterly bril- Day and A Thousand Trees, with the band’s only No 1 liant. clapping, dancing, jumping, Dakota and a superb guitar The chance to see them in singing and even taking over versus drums rock off. such an intimate setting, the vocals at times. With Stereophonics you along with about 2,000 others, Tracks from new album know what you are going to is a rare treat these days. Graffiti On The Train, which get – and it is always outstand- Consummate professionals has a slower bluesy soul feel, ing. and without doubt one of the also proved popular. The band return to the south best live acts around, they There were heavy rock coast for an arena date at know exactly what their audi- moments and an extremely Bournemouth in November. ence wants. varied set only served to show And I for one can hardly That is plenty of the old offthe tremendous talent of wait for the next time. anthems to sing their hearts Jones, whose distinctive voice LORELEI REDDIN

The Legends, Campbell and Patsy Watchorn. with stirring hits like the Seven The Anvil, Basingstoke Last year marked Drunken Nights. Although that was not THEY were still tapping their feet and their 50th anniversary but their in the playlist there were plenty of attempting an Irish jig as they left their celebrations were overshadowed by other foot tapping, head swaying seats. the sudden death of founding member, favourites. It was not surprising because the 73-year-old Barney McKenna. The first of their two sets started off Anvil audience had spent more than The band decided to come off the at a gentle pace but then roared into two hours in the company of an Irish road. But The Dublin Legends were full steam with I’ll Tell Me Ma, Spanish band whose infectious music spreads launched to continue The Dubliners’ Lady, The Rocky Road to Dublin and like wildfire as soon as they step on rich musical legacy. . And , stage. Highly talented fiddler/ player which became a hit single when The There is an old advertising slogan Gerry O’Connor was added to the line- Dubliners recorded it with , which says that Guinness Is Good For up as the successor to the late really got them reeling in the aisles. You. McKenna. With his razor sharp Irish wit Sean It is shame that the musical medicine O’Connor has made a major introduced the classic Irish folk anthem prescribed by The Dublin Legends contribution to the musical dimension by saying: “We learned this today on could not be put on tap because it is of the band who live up to the name of Youtube!” guaranteed to lift spirits on an ice cold being truly legendary. Basingstoke was one of the first rainy evening. The Dubliners’ musical roots were in stops on a tour which is foot tapping Three of the band are former Irish folk but they became an overnight across the nation. Dubliners, Sean Cannon, Eamonn pop sensation and a household name DUNCAN EATON