Cosmotheka, Palace Studio Theatre
A PACKED audience enjoyed another brilliant night in the Palace Theatre Studio on Friday – and no wonder, Cosmotheka were on stage.
This was the first of two sell-out nights by a band which, started by Dave and Al Sealey in the 1970s, has kept the musical hall songs of the past alive well and in brimming rude health.
Al passed away in 1999 but Cosmotheka have since been re-born with Dave now joined by his son Dan with Adam Barry on piano.
The evening got off to a crazy start with a couple of numbers by comedy music hall entertainer Ernie Mayne kicking off with ‘You Can’t Get Many Pimples on a Pound of Pickled Pork’ and followed by ‘My Meatless Day’.
The songs – and the jokes – kept on coming and suddenly this reviewer was transported back to a black and white telly and Leonard Sachs introducing the acts on ‘The Good Old Days’ back in the Sixties.
The trio were joined by Dave’s daughter Claire Fowler and Karen Heard of the duo ‘Remini – Sing’ who performed, among others, the great Andrews Sisters hit ‘Bei Mir Bist Do Schön’ and a standout rendition of George Gershwin’s ‘Stairway to Paradise’.
It was then back to the lads who poured out the hits of yesteryear, including Harry Champion’s hilarious ‘Never Let Your Braces Dangle’ and Charles Coborn’s ‘Two Lovely Black Eyes’.
However Dave stole the show with his monologue of Stan Holloway’s brilliant and moving ‘Brahn Boots’.
They ended with ‘Love Love Love’ by Ernie Mayne and sung in his style too – completely out of tune – before closing with Dave’s tribute to Chas Hodges, one half of Chas and Dave, who died last year with their version of the duo’s hit ‘Ain’t No Pleasing You’.
The Good Old Days? In the hands of Dave Sealey and his band they certainly were – and still are.
Ross Crawford
