In a world where most of the so-called celebrities are very much “here today and gone tomorrow” it is an honour to be seated in a theatre that is packed out mainly because the entertainer who is about to take the lead on stage has been doing so for the last sixty years!
Does it matter that he is about to retell the story of the most famous band leader ever? No, not really. Admittedly the music is amazing and is played to perfection by the 16 piece on-stage orchestra, but Tommy Steele could be sitting in the middle of the stage reading aloud and the theatre would still be full – because, nowadays, audiences rarely get to share the evening with a total theatrical legend.
As the curtain rises and Steele walks gingerly to the centre of the stage, the auditorium erupts in appreciation not only of the man, but of his illustrious career as well. He explains that the Glenn Miller Appreciation Society is meeting at the RAF Twinwood, the air base where, after flying off for a performance in Paris, Miller’s plane was never seen again and they want to share his story with us.
The story is shared, but shared at lightning speed. Miller being awarded the first ever gold disc for 1.2 million sales of Chattanooga Choo Choo and the thirty other gold discs that followed are explained away in one sentence and his struggle to become famous in the first place doesn’t take much longer – but that’s fine because the music defines the man just as much as his story does.
Many of the gold disc winning hits are performed throughout the show, with Steele showing that, even with his advancing years, he still has the energy, talent and drive to sing and dance his way through a two hour show as well as many performers half his age.
The supporting cast all perform well with Sarah Stetaert taking the role of Helen Burger, the future Mrs Glenn Miller (and wowing the audience with her superb versions of Moonlight Serenade and At Last), Ashley Knight as Miller’s pianist and best friend John “Chummy” MacGregor and Mike Lloyd playing trombone in the orchestra and also taking a cameo role as club owner Cy Shribman – the man who gave Miller his first musical break.
Six backing singers and dancers give body to the many musical numbers featured in the show and work tirelessly throughout the performance with their many costume and style changes adding extra value to an already tremendous show.
The orchestra faithfully recreate the “Miller Sound” with In The Mood, Pennsylvania 6-5000, Get Happy, Sing Sing Sing, It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing and Chattanooga Choo Choo among the best of the musical numbers.
In the end the show is as much about Miller as it is about Steele. When he gets to address the audience directly, Tommy Steele still has the glint in his eyes and the smile on his face that leaves the audience eating out of the palm of his hand and, when he introduces the singalong featuring Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree, I’ve Got a Gal From Kalamazoo and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy in the finale, the packed house is only too happy to join in and celebrate the, all too short, life of a superb musician and the incredibly long career of a truly legendary performer.
**** Four Stars