Bill Bailey – Larks in Transit at the Parr Hall Warrington Review
13-14 June 2018
Reviewed by Jan Mellor
From the onset, a backdrop of a huge green map, an array of instruments and for some reason a kitchen pedal bin on stage, the show promised to be unique and it was.
I am a great fan of the distinctive and sublime talents of Bill Bailey and by the packed theatre so were most of the North West! He entered to rapturous applause that continued through his two-hour show. Bill Bailey is a genius – rated the 7th smartest TV personality, apparently (falling behind Lisa Simpson – of the cartoon The Simpsons fame) and the way he links music, mirth, anecdotes, politics and satire it is evident that there could be some truth to this! One of the reasons I watch Bill is not only for his humour but for his outstanding musical talent and as he played a whole host of instruments (various guitars, drums, keyboards, recorder), brought in the ‘jazz room’, sang a German version of ‘You Are my Sunshine’ and a brilliant, thundering rap song ‘Brexit Chaos’- I was delighted. With his parodies on Belgium, Iceland, the Bristol accent (including that of his own), his audience participation ‘bird quiz’, original ‘Knock Knock’ joke and his persistent search for who invented ‘days’ (the audience helping with dinosaurs and Craig David!) he held the room in the palm of his hand.
The wonderful thing I love about seeing Bill Bailey on stage is that throughout his shows he really looks like he’s enjoying himself and this show was no exception. He involves his audience constantly throughout and the punters leave the star in tears of laughter at times making his shows intimate and familiar. Around me the audience spoke of him as ‘brilliant’ ‘Great’ and ‘Hilarious’ and almost following in the dear departed footsteps of Ken Dodd he is morphing into a legend. Leaving us all with a remarkable playing of a ‘bible guitar’ for a heavy music sketch that had me crying, the playing of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ on cow bells (astounding) and a bouncing AC/DC finale – the man delivered a brilliant, part-crazy, stunning performance that made us all feel privileged to be invited into his wonderful world.
Bill Bailey shows are unique, and for this fact alone you should see him to experience his quirky take on the world and how to look at our daily routines through the eyes of an eccentric genius. Go and see his show, you’ll be hooked.
An amazing show – a prodigy!
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost £27.50 (£29.25 including online booking fee).
Bill Bailey – Larks In Transit is at the Parr Hall in Warrington from 13-14 June 2018, for more information or to book tickets visit www.pyramidparrhall.com or call the box office on 01925 442345.
Pyramid & Parr Hall, Cultural Quarter, Palmyra Square South, Warrington, WA1 1BL
