MIKE GARRY & The Cassia String Quartet

 St Mary's Creative Space, Chester

Friday 24th June 2022

What an experience! I was left overwhelmed by the sheer power and exhilaration generated by Mike Garry and friends, in an absolutely perfect venue. Spoken word/poetry can be difficult to pull off. Some have the material, but not the delivery (and vice-versa). Mike Garry has both, and delivered in truly magnificent style on a warm summer's evening, in the glorious St Mary's Creative Space, Chester. With his flowing locks, white shirt & jeans, and standing in a hard, cold blast of stage lighting, Garry looked messianic. Here was a beautifully theatrical, yet heartfelt performance. The man seemed possessed, and would wander away from the microphone stand at odd moments, to deliver gutteral cries towards the high ornate ceilings of this former 'church on the hill'. 

Mike Garry & The Cassia String Quartet (Photo: David Hynes)

The evening began with our MC, Jem Stuart, an affable personality who delivered a selection of poems with some rather choice remarks about Tories and their glorious leader. Stuart is a very likeable chap, and nattily dressed for the occasion. His material being direct, amusing, and delivered in a cheeky, matey style. A delicious little starter for the hearty main meal to come.

Jem Stuart

Next up was Tosin Salako, a vibrant young musician who simply exuded charm and good humour. We were treated to four songs, all originals by Salako, and played on guitar. Passionate, intricate playing in a soulful, bluesy style. Personal pieces centred around his single parent upbringing, and life-long encounters with racism and bigotry. Uplifting, joyful, and life-affirming. A talent to keep a sharp eye on!

Tosin Salako

An hour in, and the main attraction took to the stage. Initially unassuming and matter-of-fact, while The Cassia String Quartet took their places, Mike Garry wandered up to the microphone stand, and was suddenly bathed in a harsh white light. In a moment, he was transformed, and became almost god-like. Seemingly filled with a supernatural energy and vibrancy, the poet launched into his material with gusto. Hypnotic, charming, self-affacing, humorous, gritty, earthy, and most of all, human. His passion for the positive approach was all too clear, in a series of poems celebrating the inner goodness and boundless capacity of the human soul. One piece related to his deep appreciation of a former school teacher who nurtured his talent. Another told about his tearaway youth, and turbulent experiences. Often, Garry would stare upwards, and direct his words to the heavens. Arms spread wide, echoing Jesus on the cross, with shafts of dying sunlight piercing the stained glass windows around us. At one point, a woman could be seen dancing to his words (and the atmospheric, subtle strings of the quartet), half-hidden by the church's huge columns. Eventually, she appeared in front of the stage, ripping up paper, and throwing the pieces out to the audience, as she danced down the aisle. At the time, I didn't know who she was, or what she was actually doing, but it certainly added to the overall atmosphere, giving the evening a religious and otherworldly feel.  After the show, I spoke briefly to her, and she said she'd been tearing up a drawing with Garry's words on it, to distribute to people (I wasn't sure why, or if it was an official part of the evening!) 

Mike Garry (sketch, on the night, by Brian Gorman)

A standing ovation was inevitable. Even the surly-looking, difficult to please, five blokes on the row in front of me felt compelled to show their appreciation. It was a truly magnificent evening. Garry is a superb poet, and a superb performer. It was an unforgettable, inspiring, and magical evening. I didn't cry (honest!)

NOW IS GOOD

Alice (Elizabeth Counsell) and Ray (Jeff Rawle)

NOW IS GOOD

Written & composed by Tim Firth

Directed by Joyce Branagh

Chester Storyhouse til 28 May

 

Review by Brian Gorman

 

From the writer of the hugely successful and beloved Calendar Girls, comes this gentle, feelgood comedy musical. Premiered at Firth’s local professional theatre, Chester’s impressive Storyhouse.

For a life-long cynic like me, this unashamedly sentimental yarn could have made for a night of relentless cringing and grimacing. Thankfully, the sheer positive energy in Firth’s writing, combined with the lightness of touch from director Joyce Branagh, made this a real audience pleaser that is virtually critic proof. Inspired by Firth’s late father, Gordon, ‘Now Is Good’ is the story of a father and son who are working together to transform a derelict bank into a home. Jeff Rawle (best known for playing the title role of Billy Liar, in the 1970s tv comedy series) plays the widowed father, and retired builder, Ray. This dishevelled, permanently optimistic character is a human reminder of the much-loved Wombles of Wimbledon Common, as he collects all manner of rubbish from the local council tip, seeking to recycle it into something useful. His son, Neil (Chris Hannon) is a perfect comic foil, constantly exasperated by his father’s recklessness when it comes to issues of personal and workplace safety. Hannon is excellent as the hapless Health and Safety officer, and reminded me of a younger Lee Mack, with superb comic timing matched with some wonderfully deadpan reactions to the chaos around him. Their work is regularly interrupted by a variety of colourful, well-rounded characters, each representing different facets of human nature, all encouraged by Ray to drop in any time for a natter, a cup of tea, and a fig roll. Alice (Elizabeth Counsell) is a cheery, lovable soul, zipping around in her hi-tech motorised chair, and taking delight in her interaction with the do-gooding Ray, and a visiting group of schoolchildren. Her complete contrast arrives in the form of the ever grumpy, fault-finding energy vampire, Ivy (Michele Dotrice). Then there is Ted (Maxwell Hutcheon), a polite, well-dressed old gent, happy to be carried along by whatever tide takes him. These lonely pensioners are united in their various ailments and family woes, not to mention the ongoing struggle with modern technology. Completing the cast is the livewire Alyce Liburd as an irrepressibly perky primary school teacher, trying hard to encourage her young pupils to think for themselves, and not simply be moulded by the system. The message is simple, here: enjoy life. Enjoy your time. Don’t waste time complaining. All we have is the present, and now is good.

There are more songs in this production than I expected. It’s jammed with them, and spoken dialogue is rare. Firth’s compositions are all very catchy, light, and cheery, and played by a live eight strong orchestra. Unfortunately, the musicians are all well-hidden under the stage, with only the occasional fleeting glimpse of the conductor’s scalp popping up from a gap in the floorboards. I had assumed the music to be taped, until we saw the band’s (live?) images projected on to a large screen at the curtain call.

It's all very sweet, good-natured, and surprisingly devoid of dark undertones or message. What you see is what you get. Joy and life triumphs! Cynical characters become transformed into shining beacons of hope and optimism. I should have hated it. But I didn’t.