London Calling with Champagne Charlie: Dateline: 5th October

A sense of politeness dictates I take Mark D or Mark Davies Markham's call.

His timing was as ever perfect!

I could feel the energy down the M60 motorway of a hit opening and the sheer joy of ecstatic reviews.

His brand new musical ‘Eric's' at the LIVERPOOL EVERYMAN theatre is one HOT show!

Mark's struck big with his collaboration with Boy George on the musical ‘Taboo'. But that was the past and an area of his life he wanted to avoid so being the gent skipped through and got right onto his first night's success.

‘This time I've REALLY got it Charlie!' he screamed down the speakerphone.

‘I have a director like Jamie Lloyd...someone with a vision on board....and it's made ALL the difference' he kept telling me. Whatever the change, his new musical about the iconic Liverpool club is a press and audience hit. 

Liverpool's Everyman Theatre has reported a huge uptake in pre show sales and the music based show has certainly touched a nerve with the pop loving public who's memories of Echo and the Bunnymen and the ‘Mighty Wah' are still fresh'.

It's where it all happened for me and for all these bands' he proudly told me as I sped through the London streets on the way to another opening.

There is no way it can be called a "rockumentary". True it is set in the late 1970s and yes we focus on a CBGB- like run down Liverpool club called Eric's.

But Mark cleverly interweaves the action in the club as we watch the acts ‘emerging' with his own true story.

And it's no sing song either....It's one man's fight against cancer.

‘I was told I had a short time to live so when I dramatized the situation I have the doctors suddenly turn into 1970's punk rockers and start dancing.' He told me. ‘That was real enough.'

This post punk tale of live or death raises the bar and Eric's, the musical, turns out to be a highly effective piece of narrative theatre, laced with sounds from the influential catalyst of punk and post-punk woven into the plot by his script.

The man, who wrote the Boy George musical, Taboo, now turns to his own story, beginning 20 years ago when he was diagnosed with leukemia. The usual treatments failed but fatherhood, a new drug and a fighting spirit - drawing on life-affirming memories of his teenage days when Eric's was a cultural lifeline. It sees Mark through to what doctors still regard as an amazing and against all odds cure.

The setting switches between the basement of Eric's in Mathew Street, opposite the Cavern Club made famous by the Beatles, and an anonymous street or room. Occupying the back of the stage a versatile four-piece band accompanies the story of Joe (the Davies Markham character) from hospital bed through flashbacks to his younger days.

In the play we see ‘Joey' an incarnation of the writer as a spot filled teen regularly visiting Eric's and witnessing the genesis of many of the groups of that era.

Most of these like Big in Japan, Talking Heads, Iggy Pop, The Clash and Elvis Costello are featured in the soundtrack.

Stephen Fletcher plays the young Joey and through him we see Mark fight his cancer.

‘When I was told I decided to put my life on fast forward' he told me ‘I had a child who is now 10 and stopped messing about. I had to get on with life and fight what was going on inside me'.

‘I started on the 1^st draft and showed it around to the staff at the theatre. They told me it was the best 1st draft they'd ever read' Fired by their enthusiasm Jamie Lloyd was quickly recruited and within a few months the show was cast and put together.

Critics are well and truly amazed and the theatre is swamped with ticket applications from ‘not the normal theatre types' which is a real shot in the arm for this regional hot bed of hits.

‘I want to take it further...London maybe but with fans of the bands all over the world. The US would be logical!' He told me. And as the signal started to break up we said our farewells and I took the message from HAIRSPRAY STAR or as I know her.....lead LeAnne Jones (Tracy Turnblad)

The role launched the complete unknown Leanne to a place actresses only dream of.
What's more, she's carried the public with her in true style and class.
Winning ‘Best actress in a musical' at the whatonstage.com theatergoer's choice awards and the 2008 Olivier awards and best newcomer at the critics circle awards for the role. Leanne has just resigned to stay with the show till April 2009.

Known how much she loves to text, I pulled my Morgan to the roadside and got my thumbs busy....and here's what emerged:

Tracy...you're a mindreader. Now let's let the folks at BroadwayWorld how YOU conquered the West End from nowhere!

My 1st break would have been hspray! I did do 2 fringe musicals, enchanted & a karaoke wedding. both were gr8t experiences!

Worse moment on stage ever

4getting my lines! I do it every now & then, its so scary! it never happened near the beginning!!!

Best moment on stage

Our 1st preview, after the 'i'm Tracy' dance in nicest kids reprise, they wud not stop clapping!

Funniest backstage prank / routine

a member of the hspray cast moonying me from the wings!

What is my pre show routine - make up, superstitions etc

certain people have 2 say goodnite 2 me, & kiss my cheek when i'm in my bed b4 'baltimore', & i wear a piece of sunstone in my costume 4 positivity & energy!

What role would you want ideally want after this

Dolly Levi! But i don't think its coming, & i am toooooo baby faced. maybe 1 day!

Changes in UK version - are there any, if so what

we have an extra play off after 60s, the one from the movie-"your mama's hip" - edna "hip" - tracy. its really cool!

Why / what makes show a success for you

the story, its a beautiful message for everyone, especially curvy girls! the songs are so great too! i love without love!

Any recent changes & if so what

we're about to rehearse the new cast, not many principles are leaving, i can't wait to meet all the new people though i will be so sad when my friends leave :(

Favorite after show activity

watching my sky plus!(TiVo) i love 'the Tudors' and 'x factor' has got really talented people this year!

How did you clam your pre show nerves last night

i wasn't nervous last night, i will be tonight though, Jerry Mitchell's in!! love him, but i still get nervous!!

What do you do when off stage between scenes?

?!?!?! I don't get time to think or even have a drink between scenes! although during timeless i go and lie down at the back of the stage.

What was last nights YOUR highlight song / moment in show & why

my political joke line got a HUGE laugh last night, some nights tumbleweed rolls past me on stage, but last night it got a huge laugh "manipulating our judicial system just to win a contest is un-American" ha ha ha!

And with that sunny laugh,i click off the phone and leave Leanne to get ready for that nights' show!

 

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