WC AUGUST 10.
Nipped up to London on Tuesday for an in-person interview with DONOVAN, who has a new double album released and is soon to embark on his 50th anniversary tour. The first time he has been on the road for 10 years. It was a privilege to meet him again. I felt so lucky – as the rest of the day he was doing telephone interviews. Not very personal are they!! We had fun – particularly about the 1970 Afton Festival. Then about 50yards away from the studio I went to a new café with my daughter Caroline, who was delighted to meet Donovan. It was in an old gents toilets – urinals and all. Great idea – and we took pictures to prove it. We couldn’t actually find a current toilet there!!
Went to see RAY QUINN perform at the Cowes Yacht Haven on Tuesday night. Thankfully, not even the damp evening stopped his many fans from enjoying the evening. It was so good to see so many of them singing along to some great standards like Fly Me To The Moon, That’s Life and Mack the Knife. Ray was in good form. I do miss the stage discipline these days, having been brought up on theatre performances. I can’t get used to singers performing with a water bottle in their hand. Much to enjoy in his 90 minute set.
On Thursday night I saw one of the finest shows I have seen on the Island for some time. I went to Shanklin Theatre to see their latest production of Best of the West End. This is a quite stunning professional production which runs until the end of September. At present it is on Wednesday and Thursday nights and in September it reverts to just Thursdays. It is superb from start to finish and the time just flies by – always an indication of a rather special show. There are no stars – just ten extremely talented performers who work so well as a team. From the opening number, performed in a variety of multi-coloured costumes, the show never relents in pace or appeal. Each artist makes an impact, there are memorable songs, well chosen lesser known ones, some wonderful comedy and exhilarating production numbers. I could easily have gone back the next night. The show is so fast, slick, beautifully choreographed and virtually all of the company are Island-based. There were so many people there and many more will be clambering to see it before the end of September. A night to highly recommend.
I was so glad I went to the concert on Saturday night at the Memorial Hall, Freshwater, to celebrate the life of Barry Brooke, the former popular West Wight entertainer. It was such an amazing evening with great singing and fun coupled with a few really emotional moments. There was not an empty seat in the place. Well done to everyone concerned with the presentation of the evening. Barry would have loved it. Not an ego in sight. Just every single person on stage performing for Barry. It was so heart warming to see such a nice man celebrated in this very special way.