Andrew Kay: Much merriment with Manford in Manchester

Up north

I might not sound much like it, but at heart I am, and probably always will be, a northerner. I grew up in South West Lancashire in fairly ordinary surroundings, basic working class family, council house, happy parents and a network of close relatives and family friends. It was cosy, it was nice. I took it very much for granted.

At 18 I moved south to study, and I never moved back. Over the years my parents moved away too and trips back became less and less frequent. And I love living here in the south, I cannot say that I miss being up north.

That said, when I was offered a trip to Manchester a few weeks ago I jumped at the chance. Which is how I ended up with the lovely Ms K (no relation) at Manchester’s Palace Theatre for the gala opening of Mel Brooks’ The Producers. Having read the word gala I sensed that this was going to be something of a glittery occassion – and I was right. The theatre was packed with smartly dressed people and amongst them a hefty number of TV stars.

Manford nails it, every last word, every pratfall, every moment, every note, every emotion

As a Coronation Street fan of far too many years to admit to in print, I was thrilled. I sat just behind Kim Marsh, who is so beautiful and elegant. Anthony Cotton was buzzing around and I met Lisa Riley too, who was charming and funny despite me elbowing her in the bosom. I saw John Thompson too and Noddy Holder and a lot of pretty girls who I was told were in Hollyoaks – yes I had no idea.

But the big thrill was the show itself, which is hilarious of course, but made even better by the most remarkable cast. I was sure that David Bedella would deliver a great performance and he did.

He can seduce a 2,000 strong audience with just one flash of that wicked smile. Phill Jupitus is pretty good as the mad German playwrite and Tiffany Graves makes a stunningly mazonian Ulla.

Louie Spence plays Carmen Ghia with such ease and such energy that you cannot fail to love his camp antics and extraordinary physicality.

Of course the whole hangs so much on the central characters Max and Leo. Cory English makes Max Bialystock his own, a powerful performance of real star quality. Leo Bloom is a tough call, too much received knowledge of previous performers could ruin any attempt to shine in the part, and Jason Manford has a lot to live up to.

Which is why I came away from the theatre with the biggest smile on my face. Manford nails it, every last word, every pratfall, every moment, every note, every emotion. He milks the role and delivers the performance of a lifetime, which given his youth means we can expect greater and greater things from him. I saw him in Sweeney Todd some time back singing the role of the beadle, and he was very good indeed. But that singing voice is extraordinary now, a real talent and one that he uses to great effect, soft and gentle in the oddly romantic bromance moments and wickedly precise for the comedic numbers. He has the accent too, and one would hardly know that like me, he is a professional northerner.

The Producers comes to the Theatre Royal Brighton from Monday 18 April to Saturday 25 and I cannot recommend it highly enough. The entire show and company is unmissable, Jason Manford is the icing on a comedy confection that will have you rolling in the aisles.
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