Musical brings Jolson back to life

Apr 16 2009 by Miranda Prynne, The Journal

Jolson and Co, The Musical, Newcastle Theatre Royal, until Saturday

AL JOLSON was often heralded as the world’s greatest performer.

At his funeral in 1950, George Jessel, a fellow entertainer, proclaimed: “The King is dead. Long live the King.”

And live on he does in Jolson and Co.

The musical tells the story of this icon of stage and screen, from his Lithuanian beginnings, through his Broadway and Hollywood adventures, to his final years of stardom after the Second World War.

Jolson’s unforgettable songs transport the audience to a bygone era of New York jazz and vintage Hollywood glamour. Allan Stewart is captivating as Jolson.

He tells the compelling tale with feeling, then sings and dances with all the humour and panache of the man himself.

He is supported by Donna Steele and Christopher Howell who share the rest of the characters between them.

Both are brilliant, continually switching characters with the same speed that Jolson breaks into song.

In her cameo as Mae West, Steele has the audience, and Jolson, eating out her hands within seconds.

The gleaming live band on stage gives the simple but effective set all the glitz it requires.

For the most part, the audience is so consumed by the larger than life personalities and performances presented by this musical that an over decorative set would be redundant.

Director Ed Curtis’s production shows Jolson lighting up with every song, however melancholy its introduction within his story.

This is an effective depiction of a life which seemed successful and glamorous to audiences, but held much sadness behind the scenes.

His songs, written for stage entertainment, are as engaging now as they ever were.

The theatre emptied to the sound of the departing audience humming their favourite Jolson track.