Theatre review: The Fun of the Fair

IT WAS only A Winter’s Tale, notes the opening number. A sad tale’s best for winter, said Shakespeare in his play of the same name, and tragic this story of fairground folk proves to be.

It’s not the kind of tragedy that will have you wailing as you leave the theatre, though. Yes, Death comes, but before you can say “finale” there’s a glam rock ghost astride a Silver Dream Machine. In between we get such David Essex hits as Rock On, Lamplight and Gonna Make You a Star. That opening song apart, all the numbers have music and words by Essex – teen idol he may have been, but he’s so much more than a pretty face.

It’s a regular merry-go-round – Essex plays carny guy Levi, while Rob Compton is son Jack, in love with gangster’s daughter Alice (Tanya Robb) instead of Mary (Susan Hallam-Wright), daughter of Rosa (Louise English), fortune-telling ex of Levi who’s caught the eye of aforementioned hood Harvey (David Burrows). Stealing the show from the lot of them is Tim Newman as sweet, wise Jonny, the orphan with learning difficulties – except when he sings.

Essex’s vocals don’t have the oomph they once did, but he has enough charm and star power to fuel several shows, and the talented ensemble look rightly delighted to have him.

As jukebox shows go, this isn’t as good as Mamma Mia!, but is far less pleased with itself than We Will Rock You. It trumps both in starring the artist who made the songs famous. If the 1970s was your era, it’s worth a punt.