Southern Daily Echo review:
On a bitterly cold Bournemouth night, thousands of people went home warm and content, after the best Christmas show around.
That’ll Be The Day is a brilliant touring rock ‘n’ roll comedy show.
Their Christmas version is a nostalgic blend of festive pop songs, carols, humour, an abridged panto, and even a poignant acknowledgement of soldiers fighting abroad at Christmas.
The explosive intro sets the tone with Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree and Jingle Bell Rock. Beatles and Cliff Richard festive hits are featured, together with The Shadows’ Walking In A Winter Wonderland.
The humour ranges from Gary Anderson’s superb impressions of Tommy Cooper, Bruce Forsyth and Elvis, through Trevor Payne’s always hilarious Mick Jagger monologue, to an Aladdin mini-panto.
The mood slickly and constantly changes – Dusty’s reflective Going Back, with effective overhead projections of children’s playgrounds, segues into the utterly magical The Snowman, contrasting with the rousing close-harmony version of Hark, The Herald Angels Sing. The show’s costumes and lighting are meticulous and colourful, the live music expertly played by the multi-instrumentalist band.
The musical mix of happy and holy is superbly crafted, the poppy Frosty The Snowman and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus blending beautifully with a funky Silent Night and the disco Mary’s Boy Child. With schmaltz-free dignity, the show recognised British Forces fighting abroad with an on-stage £10,000 cheque presentation to Help For Heroes. |
