Showcase Productions Afternoon Session Reviewer Johnny Tait

Walking into the foyer I was greeted by Dean Taylor as Simon Cowell. Dean never fails to amaze me how he can mimic so many people in such a precise way. Yesterday I saw him as Keith Lemon. Dean’s ‘Keith Lemon Live Tribute Show’ can provide your function with a full evening of knock-out entertainment full of laughter with audience participation

As I took my seat myself and the people sat at my table were entertained by a competent young magician in Luca Gallone, having performed magic myself when I was resident on parks and ships, I know how most tricks are performed but he completely blew me away.

Motown Devotions opened the afternoons session with a medley of classics from the sixties and seventy’s. Their appearance was colourful but not typically Motown. A perfect act for creating the party atmosphere.

Alex McRae opened with a superb rendition of ‘You Raise Me Up’ Followed by ‘With a Little Help from My Friends’ and he bravely did the version which was recorded by favourite Joe Cocker and he totally pulled it off. The Stylistics number of ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’ was performed in a fun tongue in cheek manner. Finishing with the classic ‘Nessun Dorma’ Alex demonstrated his vast powerful vocal range.

I would think that Donna Summers’s number ‘Last Dance’ would be a difficult number to open with. Kristie Charles didn’t she pulled it off and followed with a superb rendition of ‘We don’t Cry Out Loud’ finishing with a version of ‘My Way.’ Kristie said “I performed at a showcase here seventeen years ago” It was obvious to anyone that she is every inch a professional that has though experience learned her trade.

What a likeable character vocalist Maurice Malone is. His choice of songs were spot on opening with a swing number before performing a pop song with an amazing amount of energy and enthusiasm, finishing with the George Benson classic ballad ‘The Greatest Love of All.’

What a powerful voice the lovely Jennifer Ball has! I could listen to her all day long. Whatever I say about this extremely talented vocalist, I will not do her justice. So I will leave it at that.

Michael Jackson tribute act Forever Jackson opened with an upbeat number in which he was backed by four dances with a well choreographed routine followed by a classic Jackson ballad. Finishing with his dance troupe joining for a superb version of ‘Thriller’ I have seen many Jackson tributes but this is the best to date. If you are looking for a Jackson tribute act you found it.

Alex Devine was superbly turned out, the stage appearance of this extremely attractive young lady was faultless. Today she performed as herself but can also go out as a multi tribute act among the many are Katy Perry, Ellie Goulding and Shania Twain. I loved her version of ‘Love Train; which she rounded off a very enjoyable performance with.

Olly Muirs tribute act All About Olly performed by James Mc Cann was performed with an enormous amount of energy and enthusiasm that you could not fail to be drawn into his zest for life. Vocally he was spot on and his dance moves were well performed. I can see this lad being a smash hit on the holiday park circuit.

This is difficult showcase to review, will so many vocalists performing in a faultless way, what can I say about any act that is different from the others?

All the way from Wales came another attractive well turned out vocalist Elaine Gilmore. I loved the way she sang the old classics. Finishing with ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’ I have no difficulty in imaging this experienced vocalist going a storm with any mature audience.

Three piece female vocal harmony group Crescendo burst onto the stage looking an absolute picture in matching black sequin dresses opening up with soul number ‘Respect’ Before treating us to a very cleverly put together medley consisting of songs from the forties mixed with up to date pop numbers. Having met whilst working together on the cruise liners, it is so obvious by the faultless performance by these lovely young ladies that they have worked hard to perfect their act, which is suitable for pretty much any venue or occasion.

Hayley Russell looked an absolute picture when she bounced onto the stage as Kylie tribute Little Miss Minogue, her costume was spot on as this lovely little lady easily filled the stage with her accurate moves and colourful appearance. Her vocals were spot on and she sounded just like Kylie.

If you are looking for a Minogue tribute act Hayley is perfect.

With his feet three foot apart how Steve Singh with his Elvis Presley tribute act doesn’t fall flat on his back with some of his moves I will never know. The energy he put into the show was second to none. Steve managed to make the act amusing to the point that I amongst many others in the audience were wiping tears of laughter from our eyes. He finished with well-deserved riotous applause from the audience. The most enjoyable Elvis tribute act I have ever witnessed.

Stacy Green looked and sounded the part with her tribute to Annie Lenox. Most people associate Annie with the 90s but her career began with the tourists in the mid seventies. Opening with ‘No More I Love You’s’ The audience were captured by Stacy from the very beginning closing with the Eurythmics classic ‘Sweet Dreams.

Describing themselves as “The Original Vaudevillian Cabaret Act” Allie & Milo Duality looked absolutely stunning in their costumes as they performed numbers from the stage musical ‘Cabaret’ It was plain to see that a lot of thought had gone into their appearance. I am still trying to work out whether or not the tall lady was a man in drag.

Opening with ‘Tell me Lies’ tribute act Dreams of Fleetwood Mac played live. (A few years ago I would not have mentioned that, bands always played live)  With drums keyboard bass and lead guitar these experienced competent musicians were a real credit to Fleetwood Mac and provided a fitting end to a top class afternoon of quality acts.

Jamie Hughes from Park Resorts favourite 2 acts were ‘Forever Jackson’ and ‘Crescendo’

John Howe from John Howe Productions favoured Dreams of Fleetwood Mac and Jennifer Ball.

The show was held together by a very competent compere in Noel Brodie, who with natural ability found putting both the acts and the audience at ease a simple task.