The Minstrel Show

Press, 29 August 1984, Page 8

The Minstrel Show

“The Black and White Minstrel Show,” produced by Ken Jeacle for Regency Artists and Bruce Warwick, Ltd, Theatre Royal, August 28. Running time: 8 p.m. to 1025 p.m. Reviewed by Gerrit Bahlman. The old “Black and White” formula magic still works for the fans of the 27 year-old medley music recipe. A full house greeted the touring company with warmth and enthusiasm, in an evening of musical memories as the old tried and true songs of yesteryear were celebrated in the famous revue format. Seven brackets of songs were presented, interspersed by Peter Kaye, a stand-up comic laden with masks, Steve Bor, an excellent juggler, and Miodo the illusionist All the old favourites were present: “Take me to that Swanee Shore,” “You are my Honeysuckle,” “I’m just wild about Hany,” “Burlington Bertie,” “Hello—Who’s your Lady-/ Friend’” “Any old Iron;’' "Good Ship Lollypop,” “Yes

Sir, that’s my baby,” “White Christmas,” “Lady of Spain,” “Buffalo Girls,” “Yellow Rose of Texas,” “Camptown Races,” and many more. The painted black faces of the men and the “cheeky” costumes of the women all were identical to the original layout of the “Black and White Minstrel Show.” The attempt to make the stage show appear as it used to be was too successful. First, the singing was entirely mimed except for two songs by the compere comic. The live band swept the recorded singing into a plausible package but the half-hearted miming of the Minstrels made the technical cleverness spell disaster for any sense of spontaneity. The performers on stage provided a panorama of colour and dance with little commitment to the aural experience. The show did not wear well. As a theatrical idiom the reliance on the “coon song” heritage of the late nineteenth century vaudeville tradition ought to be

allowed to die a natural death. The elemental “gollywog” racism and sexism date the show. . Peter Kaye as stand-up comedian relied on a variety of cheap jokes, identifiably antiquitous; invariably either sexist, Jewish or crude. (I thought Ben Dover and Phil McCrackin were retired years ago!). Mr Kaye’s most successful material was original, the Muldoon pigeon routine and the final age mask, incorporating the only live singing voice in the show. I share his view that such a wonderful audience deserved better material. “The Black and White Minstrel Show” is exactly what was expected by its patrons. The show of 27 years ago is alive and well—the carefully orchestrated pace with the rapid transitions from snappy songs to romantic melodies. The predictable choreography and costuming—everything just so. Doomed to be Successful—the show is an ageing photograph of another era..