Gyles Brandreth is a born raconteur; he absolutely thrives from chatting to and with people, it is his drug. And he has chatted with the greatest and most famous as well as us ne'er-do-wells who just put him and others like him on metaphorical pedestals. In this, 'Break A Leg!', his one-man touring show, he quite aimiably chats to us about all those famous people he has met in his life (mostly theatre folk - hence the title!), and his anecdotes are fresh, clever, interesting, and above all funny.
The secret to a happy life, he tells us, again with anecdotal authority, is to keep busy. And boy, the man never stops! From the opening of the theatre doors at 7:00pm, he was in the foyer chatting to his audience and promoting his latest book. He did this throughout the interval, and for goodness knows how long after the show too. How on earth he even finds the time to go out on tour with all his other commitments I'll never know, but I am most certainly glad that he did, I wouldn't have missed this show for the world.
In the two hours in his company we learnt a little of his formative years, and what drew him down the path he eventually followed. Starting with a lovely Noel Coward song [he belongs to the Rex Harrison school of singing!], 'Don't Put Your Daughter On The Stage, Mrs. Worthington', he takes us down memory lane with TV shows, theatrical productions, and stars of the 1950s and 1960s who had a great influence on the young Brandreth. A tale of a 14-year-old schoolboy Brandreth being tutored by Laurence Olivier on the stage of the Chichester Festival Theatre is a highlight.
Following this we learn tantalising titbits about, among others, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, The Duke Of Edinburgh, John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson, Hayley Mills, yes he's known them all - and we learn a valuable lesson in the distinction between friendship and friendliness.
Finishing with another song, this time duetted (on the playback) by June Whitfield, Brandreth never once stopped for breath! But his anecdotes and indeed his own ebullient and effulgent personality shone through every syllable. Here's a man who can command a stage, hold the audience in the palm of his hand, and shower us all with sparkling wit, and we, like lap dogs sitting contentedly by our masters' side, want more! Utterly brilliant!
Reviewer - Alastair Zyggu
on - 18.9.21
Following this we learn tantalising titbits about, among others, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, The Duke Of Edinburgh, John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson, Hayley Mills, yes he's known them all - and we learn a valuable lesson in the distinction between friendship and friendliness.
Finishing with another song, this time duetted (on the playback) by June Whitfield, Brandreth never once stopped for breath! But his anecdotes and indeed his own ebullient and effulgent personality shone through every syllable. Here's a man who can command a stage, hold the audience in the palm of his hand, and shower us all with sparkling wit, and we, like lap dogs sitting contentedly by our masters' side, want more! Utterly brilliant!
Reviewer - Alastair Zyggu
on - 18.9.21
The funniest old codger I have ever seen. Fantastic show at Durham Gala Theater.
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