King’s Lynn Legends of Variety starring Bernie Clifton and Anita Harris gets standing ovation from audience
Audience members enjoyed a trip down memory lane on Sunday afternoon at a variety show that was perfect for all ages, writes reviewer Jenny Beake.
Legends of Variety at the Alive Corn Exchange in Lynn featured a line-up of comedy, singing and music from a cohort of ‘leg ends’ as they like to call themselves.
Freddie Davies brought together Anita Harris, Bobby Crush, Bernie Clifton, The Grumbleweeds, Billy Pearce in a line-up of true stars keeping the spirit of variety alive.
In a gentle and sentimental show with a music trio accompanying onstage, the audience were taken back to a bygone era that evoked tears of laughter and reminiscing.
Bernie Clifton was in fine comic form and in true pantomime style batted some marshmallows with a tennis racquet into the audience and also sprayed them with water.
He gave a tribute to the late Ken Dodd with a humorous and poignant poem, and showed his gift for amusing storytelling.
Bobby Crush entertained on the piano and comical duo, The Grumbleweeds, gave a fine performance in the show and they had the front row in fits of giggles.
Freddie Davies showed that the combined experience of these stalwarts of showbusiness held the audience in the palm of their hand, and he entertained them with funny tales and a song.
In the second act Billy Pearce pulled out a plethora of one liners before introducing Anita Harris who looked super glamorous in a gold sparkly dress.
Her voice is beautiful and her onstage presence from sultry songs such as All That Jazz from the musical Chicago, to romantic ballads kept the audience engaged throughout.
In fact the audience gave the stars a standing ovation who stayed afterwards signing autographs and chatting to fans.
The Legends of Variety tour continues on to Blackpool and other venues and I am sure it will bring laughter and sentiment to those who go and see it.
It is a light relief in perhaps a hard and cynical world in which we live.