Set in the mean streets of Wallsend's Lower East-side this is Alan Plater's take on Raymond Chandler in Geordieland. Like so much of Plater's work, "Looking For Buddy (Bolden)" is jazz related - some unlikely characters looking for a record of the unrecorded trumpet player Buddy Bolden - without being aimed purely at the aficionado. It is simply one of the funniest musical plays I have ever seen. The broad Geordie dialect, the song and dance routines coupled with every possible hardboiled Hollywood cliche imaginable make this an absolute hoot!
Tim Healy, as a failed Wallsend architect turned private eye, sings and wisecracks, gets slipped a 'mickey', meets a beautiful blonde and gives out with some pungent social commentary relevant to Britain and Tyneside in particular. He is brilliant and so are his supporting cast - Jayne McKenzie, Phil Corbett (who also played sax), Jane Holman, Jacqueline Boatswain and Nicholas Lumley as 'Fat Jack'.
The music, by Alan Barnes, captured the mood perfectly with Peter Allsopp (pno), Adam Keast (bs) - Neil Harland takes over on May 19 - and Chris Grahamson (dms).
Miss this at your peril - Andrew Lloyd Webber it ain't (thank gawd!)
Lance.
I think we'll have to go see the Plater play then. Sounds great.
ReplyDeleteRoly.
Hi Lance
ReplyDeleteI had every intention of going. The forthcoming addition of Neil Harland makes it all the better. Plater's stuff is always never less than good. I'm looking forward to it.
Russell