POLITICIAN and author Edwina Currie was not alone in being a big fan of the Doll’s House ‘Pop Star of the Century 2023’ show, this year’s fringe success. Bumper audiences; great fun.
Judge Edwina’s response by her tweet …
Edwina Currie
@Edwina_Currie
‘Alan Charnley at Buxton Festival Fringe – one of the daftest and funniest shows I’ve seen. Audience had a ball – and I’m hoarse from singing along..’
9:49 PM · Jul 14, 2023
Ronnie 61Paul were ecstatic. Thanks!
·JRonnie61Paul💙
@Ronnie61P
·Just been to see Pop Star of the Century at the High Peak Bookstore and Cafe. Classic Buxton Fringe. Bizarre, bewildering and brilliant.
Appearances from Boris Johnson and @Edwina_Currie. One was real the other fake, but which one? Were both booed?? One certainly was.
Here’s words from a promotion in Buxton.
‘Extraordinary, surreal’ – just two words describing Pop Star of the Century in today’s review of last night’s Pump Room Show. Now neighbours is the time to join us for our next party piece at HIGH PEAK BOOKSTORE next Friday July 14 at 8pm. Call The OPERA HOUSE on 01298 72190 for tickets that are as cheap as chips. Singalong on choruses and vote your favourite pop star as the winner…http://www.johnnydysfunctional.com/…/pop-star-of-the…/
NOW here’s the Fringe Review written by journalist Stephanie Billen …
POP STAR OF THE CENTURY – Doll’s House
It is quite a surreal experience when the genteel, architecturally significant Buxton Pump Room morphs into a working men’s club for the evening.
An enthusiastic crowd filled the venue to witness this transformation as singer Alan Charnley, back on his feet following eight hours of life-saving cancer surgery 11 months ago, took to the stage with his trusty sidekick and master of ceremonies, Herbert Entwhistle (aka Alan’s brother, Chris). This was one of those shows that does what it says on the tin, wheeling out pop star after pop star in a bid to crown one of them ‘pop star of the century’, as voted by us.
Who was better: John Lennon or Cliff, Elvis or Abba, Elton or Boris Johnson…? Sorry, what?! Ah yes, the other extra dimension to this extraordinary night was the surprise appearance of several unwanted politicians. All this was achieved by Charnley through a combination of limitless performance energy, OTT costumes and liberal use of paper masks. The faintly spooky masks were used to great comic effect and for me at least proved weirdly liberating as I sang along to the catchy choruses thinking, probably wrongly, that I couldn’t be seen by our gyrating pop star.
I would have liked a more transparent voting system, but hey, somehow the clapometer/ artificially intelligent stage panda came up with a pop star of the century that we all endorsed. Along the way I found it fascinating to find out which legendary pop stars could survive the whole Doll’s House process.
In my view Cilla, Lionel Richie and of course John Lennon came out tops. Hats off to Charnley for his game performance, versatile singing and swift costume changes as he celebrated the talents of some really great pop artists, ably assisted by an MC who was never less than supportive whether chucking out unwanted guests or joining in the performance with a blow up guitar – which he proceeded to play with his teeth …
The next performance is at High Peak Bookstore on the 14th – another good venue for a no holds-barred party night from the award-winning Charnley and his team.
Next a further review
REVIEW Carl Flynn
Tonight I found myself in a parallel universe with a rather surreal gig at the Buxton Pump Room and the wonderfully creative Johnny Dysfunctional presenting Pop Star of the Century. It was a fun singalong with Johnny’s very clever wide ranging vocals doing justice to the likes of Cilla Black, Elton John, Elvis Presley, Amy Winehouse to name but a few. John Lennon was the clear winner and we the audience thoroughly enjoyed the singalong. It was brilliant to meet up with a few old friends too. You can catch a repeat performance next week at the High Peak Bookstore near Buxton.