Two consecutive evenings at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester, so we decided to stay over for a couple of nights at a Wivenhoe hotel that we had previously visited for an evening meal with friends. We go to all the exotic places for a break!
On the Wednesday night and first up was Georgie Fame, again appearing in trio format with his two sons on drums and guitar, just as he had last year at the Apex in Bury St. Edmunds. We were a bit concerned that this might be a replica of the previous show but, apart from a few anecdotes and a couple of his more popular hits, the gig was far more than a re-run of 2014. He still plays the blues, jazz and R&B that he loves and clearly favours over his more popular material (he played ‘Bonnie & Clyde’, but under sufferance), but ensures that he dips into material that differs from his earlier tour. There are some overlaps (‘Green Onions’ and the Jimi Hendrix tribute ‘Red House, which showcases his son’s abilities on the guitar), and the influences are the still same (Ray Charles, Mose Allison), but the gig feels fresh and he still clearly enjoys playing to a live audience. Long may he continue.
On the Thursday night, Andy Hamilton brought his “Change Management” show to the Mercury. Well known as a scriptwriter on classics such as ‘Drop The Dead Donkey’, ‘Old Harry’s Game’ and, of course, ‘Outnumbered’, I believe this was only his second stand up tour. He’s created a show of anecdotes and musings that loosely hang together to illustrate his dislike of some aspects of change. Looking back at a childhood spent playing on bomb sites, he charts the rise of fear and paranoia in society, laments the stranglehold of technology on the young, and muses on a society where you can make up one-off names for your kids. Hamilton is certainly in ‘grumpy old man’ territory, but his take on the modern world is shot through with an intelligent thoughtfulness and insight. It’s quite comfortable, and he was probably preaching to the converted, but it was a very engaging two hours. Particularly ironic that at the interval, seconds after he’d finished a thinly veiled attack on those amongst us who can’t even cross the road without having our eyes glued to our mobile phones, half the audience got out their phones to update their ever important Facebook status and check their Twitter feeds. Oblivious, obviously.
Stayed at the Wivenhoe House Hotel, which is a four star hotel with the added distinction of being a training hotel situated in the grounds of the University of Essex. Overall, a very good stay, but there are a number of easily amended small failings that would make it even better. Also had a wander down to the University Campus, which appeared in fact to be a not so small village with shops and stalls selling artisan bread, cakes and pastries and all manner of eateries and coffee shops. It wasn’t like that in my day! (Sticking to Andy’s theme).