WC JUNE 8
I was keen to attend the funeral of 60s iconic singer Twinkle who died last month. I had been to her Godshill home twice and met her few times in the village. I found her such a lovely lady and was saddened by the news of her death. On Tuesday I attended the noon funeral at Godshill Church and she had a wonderful send-off and the church was packed with people from the music and entertainment industries. It was sad but it was also a celebration of her eventful life. I managed to have a few words with her husband Graham and members of her family. The mourners included famous TV actor Fay Ripley, a relation of Twinkle, whose real name was Lynn Ripley, members of the 60s band the Four Pennies, rock historian and singer Alan Clayson and numerous others. It was quite poignant when her lovely former stray dog, Mr White, was brought into the church – and he was so well behaved. I send all my condolences to her family and friends.
Went to Barnum, starring Brian Conley, on Wednesday night at the Mayflower, Southampton, and enjoyed this great production and, as ever, Brian proves just how brilliant an entertainer his is. Other than a couple of songs which stand out, the rest are nothing special but the show is and the spectacle makes up for the rather ordinary songs. Few, if indeed anyone, could top Brian Conley in this role.
We enjoyed a show even more the following afternoon when we saw A Damsel in Distress at the Chichester Festival Theatre. It’s a well written PG Wodehouse story with music from George and Ira Gershwin. There is not a weak link in the company and it is such a feel-good show. Loved the ingenious set, the superb quality of all the actors, the stunning music and, of course, the magnificent theatre. So glad I chose to interview Sally Anne Triplett and Nicholas Farrell – they were both outstanding. This one must make the West End.