Great balls of fire, what a show! Am I really watching this amazing show playing to a small audience in Highgate? This performance is worthy of a far bigger audience. 'It’s A Little Bit Funny' is a one man musical extravaganza. Set in a world where the effervescent Martin Kaye bumps into his hero in Vegas. This time his hero is the larger than life performer Elton John. Martin obviously adores the man and his music all simply oozes out of his pores. It’s an evening of never-ending Elton and Bernie songs as a tribute to the great man. But let me add, no way is this a tribute singer. Martin Kaye, himself, is already a fairly successful musical performer who was working in Las Vegas, starring in the Million Dollar Quartet as Jerry Lee Lewis. He starts this show as he means to go on with a loud and raucous rendition of 'Great Balls Of Fire'. The story unfolds with Kaye’s possible meeting with Elton John who was in Las Vegas at the same time. Imagining a meeting at the famous Caesar’s Palace, Kaye is playing the grand piano in the foyer when he is joined by a looky-likey- real or fake?
The two play on and chat about Elton’s life.
Martin Kaye is full of energy, bounding round the stage, attacking the piano with as much flamboyance as Elton, blasting out the tunes and holding a note for an incredibly long time. He played to the crowd, made us feel included and encouraged us to be more than willing partakers.
The audience were clapping along, singing to their favourites, up on their feet and singing "laa la la la laa" to 'Crocodile Rock'. It was a show of two halves covering the life and music of Reginald Kenneth Dwight.
The stage is set like a foyer to a hotel. We have a grand piano and a sofa. Martin is the sole performer (playing himself), he is accompanied by a bass guitar (Johnny Wells), guitar (Morgan Rickman) and drums (Adam 'Twenny' Sheffield), all of whom are hidden behind the set.
As the show goes on, we learn that Kaye has a large tattoo covering his forearm which is actually the music to 'Your Song'. Definitely my favourite Elton track and the one that closed the show. It is also where the title of the show comes from.
Tonight was extra special as Kaye's parents were also in the audience. We learnt that Kaye’s father played piano, owned an Elton John musical score book and played for the family. It was this input into Kaye’s early life that set him on this path of hero-worship. Similarly Kaye spent his formative years playing classical piano and then joining a band just like Elton.
The Gatehouse is a great little venue in Highgate, the audience were friendly and willingly interactive. I chatted to a few and was pleasantly surprised to hear that one young man had been following Martin Kaye since seeing him perform on a cruise ship last year and had travelled from Milton Keynes to see the show bringing with him two other friends.
Probably one of the best small stage performances I have seen. I think it’s worthy of a much bigger stage and wouldn’t it be super if Elton, himself, caught a show. Next up is The Radlett Theatre just outside Harrow where performances start on 3rd March and then on to his hometown show at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester from the 21st April.
Reviewer - Penny Curran
on - 22/2/20
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