Ken Dodd – Happiness Tour

Step back in time to a Christmas variety show in a period of four-day weeks and blackouts. You get all the fun and warmth of childhood laughter and happiness, with a bit of a sting in the tail when ‘romance’ moves to centre stage and our 70s era-feel makes itself more known. But Dodd can be indulged that – he’s 90 this year and an incredible stage presence. At least half of the four and a hald hour show is Dodd on stage making us laugh, telling stories and singing, whilst the rest of the time is made up of an odd yet surprisingly soothing mixture of variety acts, incorporating everything from magic to a glockenspeil/recorder duet. It lands well, without irony, reminding us why these kinds of mixed bills were so popular. Of course the star of the evening is Dodd himself; warm, never too long between laughs, and a reminder of what a career can really achieve.

Theatre Royal Brighton, 27 August 2017
Rating:
Victoria Nangle