"The Flanagan and Allen Story" An evening of pure music hall!

STEP back in time to the days of World War II and recall the laughter brought to the stage by British comedy duo Flanagan and Allen and The Crazy Gang.

Flanagan and Allen, a popular singing and comedy double act wowed audiences back in the day and filled theatres for over 30-years in London, first at the Palladium and then at Victoria Palace, where they became known as Britain's favourite pensioners.

Nostaglia Productions offer a tribute to the funny pair with The Flanagan and Allen Story live at the Playhouse Theatre.

Written and directed by Johnny Barrs this show offers a musical tribute to the lives and work of the comedy duo, featuring a full cast of singers, dancers and musicians.

Johnny plays the role of Bud Flanagan while Derek Mannway plays the part of Chesney Allen.

As music hall comedians Flanagan and Allen would often feature a mixture of comedy and music in their act which led to a successful recording career as a duo and roles in film and television.
Their songs featured the same usually gentle humour for which the duo were known in their live performances and during the Second World War they reflected the experiences of ordinary people during wartime.

Songs like 'We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line' mocked the German defences, while others like 'Miss You' sang of missing one's sweetheart during enforced absences.
Other songs, such as their most famous, 'Underneath the Arches' (which Flanagan co-wrote with Reg Connelly), had universal themes such as friendship.

The vocals were distinctive because while Flanagan was at least a competent singer and sang the melody lines, Allen used an almost spoken delivery to provide the harmonies.
Flanagan and Allen were both also members of the comedy group The Crazy Gang and worked with the team for many years concurrently with their double-act career.

The Crazy Gang were a group of British Entertainers formed in the early 1930s and achieved considerable domestic popularity becoming a firm favourite of the Royal Family, especially King George VI.

The Flanagan and Allen Story tells the story of both Flanagan and Allen's duo career and their time performing with The Crazy Gang alongside Jimmy Nervo, Teddy Knox, Charlie Naughton, Jimmy Gold and Florrie Forde.

Playing The Crazy Gang in this one night only show are; Anthony Mason as Jimmy, Perry Dennis as Teddy, Mavis Lane as Florrie, Ian Marcus as Charlie and Mike Pannell as Jimmy.

Come along for an evening of nostalgia and join in with all the songs you know and love so well.

The Flanagan and Allen Story will be at the Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare, on Wednesday 5 September at 7.30pm. Tickets, priced at £12.50, £10.50 concessions are available on 01934 645 544 or online at http://tinyurl.com/677l7bh

Date: Wednesday, September 05, 2012