The Great 80’s TV Revival

You probably already know (or maybe you don’t) that very special feeling when you go to a show and you are so excited you just can’t stop smiling. That is how it feels when you turn up at the wonderful (and very reasonably priced) Conservative Club of Swaffham … for a Swaffham Players review show. And, on this fine Friday in April, that is exactly what I was about to do, but, more importantly, that is exactly how I felt. It is just like spending an evening amongst friends and so, when it all goes wrong (as it does from time to time) you laugh with them, never at them, and all the disasters only add to the enjoyment. So, there I was at my (reserved) table with the Lady Mayor of Swaffham and her consort. She was charming, he was gracious, and the welcome was as warm as a Bank Holiday Monday …… in the Maldives. In truth, I was still chuckling from the last review (All Mouth and Five Pairs of Trousers) which I absolutely loved and was intrigued with the title of the latest offering. “80’s Revival” it said, but what would that mean? It turned out to be an enormously enjoyable mix of nostalgic comedy with a couple of songs thrown in for good measure. Family illness had prevented Marcie Loan taking part, which was a shame, but the rest of the usual suspects were very much in evidence as we took ourselves back to the 80’s with a mixed bag of vintage television classics. The usual suspects were: Karen Nye, Maureen Silver, Sue Baxter, Nicky Dawkins, Christine Haines, Chris Smith, Sir John Hooker OBE, Vic Tucker, Bill Smith, Stuart Travis, Adrian Loft, Roger Bilverstone, Brian Hubbard (legend of this parish) and Richard Winch. They mixed, matched and mingled to bring first half highlights that included (in no order) The Two Ronnie’s News Desk, Supermarket Checkout and a lovely Last of the Summer Wine, which just brought a thousand memories flooding back. There was also the Levi’s Jeans moment with Roger Bilverstone which may have scared me for life! The highlight of the half was without a doubt watching the smooth, sophisticated and silver-tongued John Hooker prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that he has never watched Blankety Blank! Such is the charm of the man that the deeper he sank the funnier it got until I was literally crying with laughter! The second half balanced nicely with the first and was filled with very much with more of the same. Nicky Dawkins was outstanding once again as Rodney in the Only Fools and Horses sketch, helped by some good work from Roger Bilverstone as Del Boy. Mrs Dawkins just seems to understand the character that John Sullivan and Nicholas Lyndhurst created and seems completely comfortable bringing it to life. Other highlights were many and included (but were not limited to) Chris Haines getting maximum humour from a technical malfunction during her Shake and Vac tribute. She also (at the same time) managed to prove what a pro’ she really is, and a fine performer to boot. More Haines next time Director!!!!! Vic Tucker very nearly stole the half with two brilliant incursions. Firstly, as the contestant in the famous Two Ronnie’s Mastermind sketch and then as the singer in the shows finale, again with a Two Ronnie’s masterpiece Bold Sir John. There were also two excellent songs from John Winch and Brian Hubbard was once again on top form working brilliantly with Roger Bilverstone (in drag) He claimed to be 87 when I saw him after the show … I don’t believe a word of it! Still sharp, still funny, still has the delivery of a professional and always seems to know his words. Quality! Penultimate paragraph honours were assigned with relative ease on this occasion and head in the direction of John Hooker. Mr Hooker is always a class act but having barely escaped Blankety Blank with his life, he compounded the comedy by taking on Play Your Cards Right. If he was shaky on the BB rules he had not a clue about PYCR. Even with (a very well informed) Nicky Dawkins trying to keep him on track, it just got crazier and crazier. I was gasping for breath as I laughed uncontrollably and yet still found myself shouting “Higher” and “Lower” way louder than anyone else. …… I still feel now that they should have taken the freeze option. John, when you try to be funny you are very funny, but when you try to be serious you are hilarious! My face ached as I left the venue, and I just kept chuckling all the way home. My sincere congratulations to Producer and Director, Sue Baxter for picking a whole load of winning material and marshalling the Swaffham massive for an outstanding evening’s entertainment. When’s the next one?

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