Taylorian Productions presents A musical celebration of the lives of Flanagan & Allen and The Crazy Gang 23rd August 2007 to 1st September 2007 Gaiety Theatre, Isle of Man Programme sponsored by Bishopswood Trust Ltd The key to comfortable living Our new sales and marketing suite is now open on Victoria Street, Douglas. The brand new state of the art offices Pop in for friendly professional advice offer a one-stop shop for residential on all your property requirements. and investment property sales. We’re here 7 days a week. Winners of The Daily Express British House Builders Gold Award 2006 Sales Offices open: Call 615000 Monday - Friday 9am-5.30pm Saturday 9am-4pm 22-24 Victoria Street, Douglas Sunday 11am-4pm Heritage Homes - laying solid foundations by investment in youth sports TAPR1810/0807 Heritage Homes - a member of the Dandara Group Performances from 21st December 2007 to 5th January 2008 Tickets on sale from 1st September 2007 with family tickets (2 adult 2 children) available from £45 Taylorian Productions presents A musical celebration of the lives of Flanagan & Allen and The Crazy Gang Written by Patrick Garland, Brian Glanville and Roy Hudd in association with Chesney Allen Directed and Staged by John Cumberlidge Musical Director – Julian Power Assistant Director – Emma Gleave Lighting design by Paul Seed for PSC Productions Sound Design by Alex Linney The Amateur rights for this production given by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Ltd. Wash and Go Window Cleaners Professional, reliable and friendly service All island coverage Domestic and commercial work undertaken Conservatory roofs and internal windows cleaned All work fully insured Tel: Aaron 305835 SESSION TIMES 9AM TO 1PM MONDAY TO FRIDAY CHILDREN AGED 2 TO 5 YEARS WELCOME WILLASTON PLAYGROUP TELEPHONE 493435 or 420918 OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND INC SCHOOL HOLIDAYS & BANK HOLIDAYS ST JOSEPHS CHURCH HALL SNAEFELL ROAD WILLASTON BUD FLANAGAN & CHESNEY ALLEN The East End had to put up with plenty during World War II. The Blitz, families being carved up and evacuated to far-flung locations, young men and women risking their lives to fight for their country. But as well as the servicemen and women there was another army, doing an invaluable job of keeping up spirits on the home front. While the bombs were falling, London kept a sense of humour, and much of it was down to a cockney comic called Reuven Weintrop ... better known to us as Bud Flanagan. Bud was born in Spitalfields near Whitchapel on 14 October 1896, where his parents ran a Fish and Chip shop. A Blue Plaque marks the spot today, above the present-day Rosa’s Cafe. The young Bud studied at the Jews Free School in Bell Lane but his future was to lie neither in academia nor in the purveying of fried fish ... he was headed for the stage. Like a myriad other Jewish artists he took a more Anglo-friendly name, and Bud Flanagan was born. Bud made a good living on the music halls being a talented comic and songwriter. He was to become well-known for sentimental and comic songs delivered in his gentle cockney tones. And he really sparked when he teamed up with Chesney Allen. Three years Bud’s senior, Allen came from Brighton, and was the perfect foil to Flanagan. Their comedy featured quick-witted, back-and-forth banter. The songs tended to feature Bud singing the melody line while Chesney spoke his words, often slightly behind Bud: the result was relaxed and friendly, and enormously popular on the halls. World War II saw their peak and Flanagan and Allen kept churning out the hits, including Run Rabbit Run, Underneath the Arches, Shine on Harvest Moon and We’re Gonna Hang Out the Washing on the Siegfried Line. Flanagan and Allen and the Crazy Gang moved into television in the fifties. And in 1963, Bud Flanagan appeared in his own TV sitcom: Bud. Flanagan was now a wealthy man, having invested his showbiz cash in betting shops (having shrewdly seen that his style of humour and dance was on the wane). The new show employed a format used many time since, with the comic appearing as a fictionalised version of himself: think Garry Shandling and Seinfeld. Old friends such as Chesney Allen, the Crazy Gang’s Charlie Naughton, plus Jerry Desmonde and Jack Hylton and Monsewer Eddie Gray all appeared, and delighted a new audience. Chesney Allen was to retire shortly afterwards, putting his health before work (and he was to live until 1982). Bud Flanagan, though, kept working until his death. His last job, recorded in 1968, was a pastiche of those old wartime hits, called Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr Hitler. The writer was a young talent called Jimmy Perry, looking for atmosphere for a new sitcom he was writing with David Croft. The show was Dad’s Army and the rest is history ... there can’t be a person in Britain who doesn’t know Bud Flanagan’s voice. THE CRAZY GANG The members were: Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, Charlie Naughton, Teddy Knox, Jimmy Nervo, Jimmy Gold and occasionally ‘Monsewer’ Eddie Gray. Essentially the gang comprised three double acts; Flanagan & Allen, Naughton & Gold and Nervo & Knox (with some input from Gray). The gang appeared first Back row left to right: Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen in George Black’s stage Front row left to right: Charlie Naughton, Teddy Knox, shows ‘Crazy Weeks’ and Jimmy Nervo and Jimmy Gold. ‘Crazy Months’ at the Victoria Palace Theatre, which later became their adopted home, and as they grew older they became a national institution. They presented a gorgeous rag-bag of old music hall jokes and sight gags, interspersed with knowing winks to the audience. To the Crazy Gang nothing was sacred and they even played on royalty. When Queen Elizabeth II made her first appearance in the Royal Box following the birth of Prince Charles, Jimmy Nervo appeared on stage with a rocking horse and said “Here you are missus, here’s something for the nipper!” They all had their own styles and brought different things to the performances, Teddy Knox was very dapper and the brains behind the majority of the sketches, Jimmy Nervo excelled in grotesque female impersonations. Nervo and Knox had a technique of entering other acts and causing chaos wherever they went. Charlie Naughton and Jimmy Gold were more routine, but Gold was a brilliant stooge and was always blamed for communal misfortunes. ‘Monsewer’ Eddie Gray was a part-time member of the gang and was as uncontrollable off stage as he was on. His favourite practical joke was talking to a post box, which he swore has a man inside and asking a crowd to stand by and keep him cheerful while he fetched the police. He would leave them standing talking to the post box and not come back! They had all had entertainment success before the Crazy Gang but not of the same magnitude. It was natural for them to get together as they shared a similar style of comedy and worked regularly on the same bills at the same theatres. The Crazy Gang, were hugely popular. They filled music halls and theatres up and down the country and were favourites of King George VI. The Gang did numerous Royal Command performances, as well as private shows for the Royal Family. By the late 1930s the Crazy Gang were making movies, their first being O-Kay for Sound in 1937. But it was during the war that Flanagan and the rest were to hit the heights. The movie Gasbags came out in 1940, their irreverent contribution to the war effort. Other films starring the Crazy Gang include Alf’s Button Afloat in 1938 and Life at the Circus in 1958. With the gang unable to feed off the audience they were unable to use their great skill of ad-libbing and sadly the films were never as successful as the stage shows. ‘Monsewer’ Eddie Gray FLORRIE FORDE Florence Mary Flannagan was born August 27th, 1876 in Richmond, Victoria, Australia. Her father died when she was young and she took her Step-father’s name Forde. She ran away at 16 and went to Sydney, where she found work in the music halls and theatres. She had a natural talent and gained some local notoriety. Her talent was noticed by a touring Englishman who offered her a job. At 21 she left for England were she was an immediate hit, and often worked several halls per night. Florrie had a powerful stage presence, and specialised in songs that had powerful and memorable choruses, in which the audience were encouraged to join. She was well known for her powerful voice and performing her shows without the need of a microphone. In 1903 she made her first recording. She is also noted for bringing fellow Aussie Billy Williams to one of her Edison recording sessions in 1906, where she encouraged him to sing his hit John, Go and Put Your Trousers On. She would remain close friends with Williams until his death in 1915. She was a prolific recording star on 78s as well as cylinders. It is interesting to note that Forde signed a contract with Edison in 1909 to record her songs. She was paid 40 pounds upon signing and 7 guineas for each Blue Amberol recorded, but only 5 guineas for a 2-minute wax. In all she made over 700 recordings. She married in 1909 and was soon drawing top billing, singing songs such as Down At The Old Bull And Bush and Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?.