As the open air (but undercover) Festival Theatre audience settle themselves down for the show, the stage is set to resemble a cosy living room with a couple of armchairs either side of a coffee table, an electronic keyboard off to one side and, in between, a video screen which, in size, looks an awful lot like the huge televisions that some people have as a feature in their homes.
Into this very intimate setting comes BBC Broadcaster Beverley Humphreys, for she is the lady who will lead the, very willing and enthusiastic, audience on a very personal journey through the life of one of the UK’s most loved and respected performers. Her velvety voice seems to envelop the audience like a warm blanket and, in her stunning red dress, she looks just as amazing as she sounds.
She introduces Lee with the warmth and love that identify her as a very special friend and, as he takes the microphone to deliver the first song of the evening, accompanied by his Musical Director, Adam Dennis, we relax as if the guest of honour at our intimate soiree has given his seal of approval, and the assembled company sit back to enjoy Lee’s incredible voice as it powers it’s way across the stunning grounds of Hever Castle.
At first Lee seems quite taken aback by the fact that, as the sun has yet to set, the faces of each and every member of the audience are visible to him, but this also adds a new dimension to the show as, rather than being invisible in one of the many indoor venues at which they have seen Lee perform, Lee’s devoted fans know that as well as being able to see the emotion on Lee’s face, he can also see the emotion on theirs.
The evening, subtitled A Dream That Became a Reality, is a mix of song and chat. The songs are, mostly, taken from the musical theatre shows that have special meaning for Lee and the chat is very much in the style of the wonderful TV show This is Your Life. Beverley starts at Lee’s first moments as a 7lb 4oz newborn, made even more poignant as Lee’s parents are in the audience, and works through his life, pausing at the most significant points to allow Lee to illustrate his story with songs.
This is not a self indulgent “look at me I’m a star” show, this is a warts-and-all trip through a life that, while it makes him very happy now, has taken Lee to some very dark places. He talks about being bullied mercilessly at school (and how he now campaigns to try and prevent it), the times when he worked as a postman and waiter just to make ends meet and he talks about the end of his marriage, with a dignity that shows why so many people who come into contact with Lee, privately and professionally, refer to him as “the nicest man in show-business”.
That is a phrase that echoes out from the video messages that have been sent by the people that Lee has met, and worked with, during his life. Those people who helped the shy 15 year old boy shine in his first lead role as Danny Zuko in his school production of Grease, who trained him to appear on the West End stage and who eased him into the massively high profile role of Ben “Lofty” Chiltern in both of the BBC medical dramas, Casualty and Holby City.
Of course, it would be impossible to tell his story without referring to the BBC series Any Dream Will Do and the “Technicolor Dreamcoat” from the London Palladium production of Joseph takes pride of place on the stage with Lee for the entire evening. Winning the TV competition, and the 18 months that Lee played the title role in the West End may have changed Lee’s life completely but they have never changed him. He is still the cheeky Essex boy with an infectious smile and a personality that shines out like a beacon.
As well as his conversation with Beverley, Lee also addresses the audience directly and, with the “fourth wall” gone, we are invited into the conversation with open arms making it feel like we are all sitting round after dinner, chatting like only the very best of friends do. The fact that the audience sit, in total silence, for two and a half hours is testament to Lee’s ability to hold an audience and to entertain them so well that time just flies by.
As the conversation reaches the point where Lee is now talking about his current TV role, and his nine year old daughter, the audience realise that our time together with Lee will soon be over. Another indicator is that Beverley’s “Big Gold Book” of notes is now closed and so we join in with his final song, Lee’s signature tune, Any Dream Will Do, followed by a heartfelt, and well deserved, standing ovation.
Most of us would shy away if we were offered the chance to trawl back through our lives and talk about everything that has happened along the way but not Lee Mead. This is his story, his dream and now, his reality. He corrects misconceptions about some events, and showers praise on the many people who have helped him to become the man he is – without once referring to his incredible talent, fantastic voice, engaging personality and, dare I say it, his good looks as well, so I’ll do that for him!
***** Five Stars