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Performing classic comedy sketches is potentially a dangerous game. The trouble is it never matches the original, no matter who performs it. Get it right and it’s bearable, get it wrong and it becomes cringe-worthy and embarrassing. The Southwick Players vainly performed an array of sketches/songs over two hours from the likes of Victoria Wood, Kenneth Williams, Monty Python, Fry & Laurie, Cook & Moore and The Frost Report. The audience particularly enjoyed seeing their friends/family in the cast shown in a different light. It’s true some pieces worked and were performed well but some sketches were poor in delivery.

The Barn Theatre, Southwick, 23 June
Rating:
Lee Stevens

‘Britain’s Got Talent Tour’ features the winner of BGT 2011, Jai McDowall, and nine other finalists. The thing with a programme called ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ is that you expect to see genuine, raw talent which should be entertaining of course; but also to see talent there on some level. Most of the acts indeed hit the mark, but there were a couple, such as Steven Hall (the dancing middle-aged man) and Jean Martyn (the bouncy over-excited organ player) who seemed to have already given as much as they had to give.

James Hobley is clearly a very gifted and unique dancer and Les Gibson’s impressions had the audience cheering and laughing. The two highlights for me however, and the two acts that are clearly very gifted were Paul Gbegbaje, the pianist, and Ronan Parke, the singer. They deserved, well and truly, to be on the show and it was almost quite emotional watching two people give an audience everything they’ve got; and give it they did.

For me, Ronan Parke was the winner. The second part of the show saw some special collaborations take place between Steven Hall and Jean Martyn (should’ve seen that one coming), and Paul Gbegbaje and Ronan Parke, which honestly was very beautiful. Jai McDowall finished off the show with a couple of songs with his outstanding voice, including the one from his audition. An enjoyable evening that seemed to excite the entire audience with lots of enthusiasm. It just made me wish that I had some super talent I could unleash; oh well.

Brighton Centre, 23 June
Rating:
Laura Hayward

Wrestling, The Krays, skinheads, Care Bears – these are a few of Wil Hodgson’s obsessions. The chubby, thick-necked skinhead cuts a formidable figure. But his kind, friendly, inquisitive nature is reminiscent of Winnie The Pooh. If Winnie The Pooh was covered in tattoos and talking about going to lesbian nightclubs. His thoughtful monologue is full of rambling digressions rather than zingy one-liners. But he is incredibly endearing and his fascination for the British subculture draws you in – even if you have no idea what obscure Clash song he is trying to remember, you do not doubt its importance. A national treasure.

The Caroline of Brunswick, 23 June
Rating:
Jim Holland

After a decade of middling success, David Ford has turned his experiences into an autobiography, ‘I Choose This – How to Nearly Make It in the Music Industry’. Tonight’s show saw dry-humoured Ford relating awkward tales of industry humiliation and frustrated dreams. He interspersed these with related songs from his back catalogue, from his days with Eastbourne band Easyworld, via breakthrough solo single ‘State of the Union’, up to last year’s career-best album ‘Let the Hard Times Roll’. Ford successfully balanced his songcraft with multi-instrumental looping skills and grim comedy in a harsh but not bitter evening.

Komedia, 22 June
Rating:
Stuart Huggett