Just Jim Dale at the Vaudeville Theatre London Review
Just Jim Dale
Vaudeville Theatre, London
26 May to 20 June 2015
Reviewed by Jat Shah
My friend and I went to see the heart warming and funny Just Jim Dale at the Vaudeville Theatre in London last week. The history of this beautiful theatre dates as far back as 1870. Situated on the legendary Strand, home of many London’s theatres, it is only a couple of minutes by walk from Charing Cross tube station. Many of London’s famous attractions including Trafalgar square, Leicester Square and Covent Garden are also a short stroll away.
Upon approaching the theatre at around 19:10 on a Tuesday, we can see many groups of excited theatre goers outside the building. As we entered through the doors, we were greeted by a member of staff and shown the way to the box office. We can see and feel the history of this charming theatre as soon as we stepped in. Soon after collecting the tickets, we settle down in our seats in centre stalls and take in the infectious buzz and excitement of being in a historical London theatre.
As the show beings and Jim Dale appears on the stage, his captivating presence is felt by everyone in the theatre. The piece is written by Jim Dale himself and it is a part musical, part autobiographical one man show packed with bags of humour and sensational singing. The story starts with his first job in a shoe factory after leaving school and takes the audience through an unforgettable journey through his career to date.
During the break we got some ice cream and got talking to a couple sitting behind us. They, like many others in the theatre, seemed to know a lot of the lyrics and were happily singing along from time to time, as encouraged by Jim Dale. Although neither my friend nor I knew any of the songs and lyrics, we were so taken by the show that at a few occasions we also joined in and attempted to sing along.
The physique and energy of this 79 year old man is truly inspiring whilst the singing and dancing skills keeps the audience entertain throughout the show with never a dull moment, all presented by himself with no one else but Mark York, an exceptional pianist, accompanying him on the stage.
Towards the end of the show he introduces his work with Harry Potter audio books, in an extremely funny and clever way. At one point during this part of the show I was laughing so hard I nearly fell off my chair. He has an extraordinary ability to capture the audience and keep them in the palm of him hands through the power of his voice. It is no surprise that this man has won Grammy and Audie awards for his work with audio books.
We did not know much about Jim Dale and his career when we went to see this show, and yet we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this delightful performance. He is an incredible performer who can do it all. It goes without saying that it is a must watch show for his fans. But for anyone young and old who do not know of Jim Dale, this show is a great way to spend a few hours being entertained by a truly creditworthy entertainer.
Rating: 4.5/5
Tickets cost from £20 to £67 (booking fees may apply).
Just Jim Dale is at the Vaudeville Theatre in London until 20 June 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 482 9675.
Vaudeville Theatre. 404 Strand, London, WC2R 0NH | 0844 482 9675
