WC JULY 13.
The week got off to a great start with an interview at London’s Electric Airwaves Studio with LEE MEAD. We had great fun and it was much longer than the quick ten minutes we had at the Mayflower, Southampton, in 2013, during the interval of a pantomime matinee. The interview can be heard on John Hannam Meets on Sunday July 19. The Island’s Brian Marriott is in the same show.
On Wednesday I met up with an old friend from my childhood in East Cowes, TONY COLE, now the deputy station manager of the National Coastwatch Institution. We met in the operations room above the Needles. I had never been to this actual spot before, although I am close to this when I run from Totland to Freshwater Bay and back. Tony was in great form – and lugging my gear into their operations room seemed like climbing Everest.
I went to see Stepping Out on Thursday night at the Trinity Theatre and a very excited Amanda Barnley was directing and producing her first show for the CAODS. Sadly, it was a night not to remember for too long. Amanda was let down by some of her cast and backstage crew. There were far too many prompts, missed cues and gaps in the production. Some of the latter were so long the audience were talking amongst themselves. There were one or two excellent performances and, not for the first time at an Island production, it was stolen by Helen Clinton Pacey. I’m sure it would have been better the next night. I was intrigued as to why John Abraham, billed as Mavis Enderby, played Rose. He did so well but for what real purpose, when no reference was made to his cross dressing during the play?
Paul Carrack, whose career has included solo hits, mega hits with Mike and the Mechanics, Squeeze and Ace, came back to the Island on Saturday night for the first time in over 50 years. He came back to the scene of childhood holidays to perform an amazing concert at Shanklin Theatre, which had been sold out for weeks. It was an amazing night and he performed for not far off 90 minutes in his second half spot. His brilliant band gave him superb support and the hits kept coming. He also cleverly mixed in some of his highly acclaimed songs from his solo albums and a few well chosen covers. Paul is a marvellous singer and a great performer on keyboards and guitar. The whole band proved so versatile and with two drummers what a driving sound. A magical experience and if he comes back next year they will need two nights. Everyone who witnessed this amazing night will tell their friends what they missed.