A prospect to bring a smile to the face of anyone over 60 and to quite a few under 60 too. Like Dad’s Army a decade later, Flanders and Swann’s humour was so quintessentially English – sharp and satirical, always à point, risqué on occasion – never cruel, vulgar or crude – and often achingly, side splittingly funny.
Who could forget ‘The Gnu (spelt GNU)”? Who has not wallowed in mud with the Hippopotami, rattled through London’s streets on that “…Ninety-seven horsepower Omnibus!” or shed a tear over sad fate of honeysuckle and the bindweed? So what a joy to have them brought to life again. But how?
You may have noted that in my last post when talking about Longitude, the new musical which will open at Upstairs at the Gatehouse on June 13th I said that there would be more to come about one of its composers, William Godfree.
When William sent me details about Longitude and asked if I could mention it in a post I remembered that I had met him at the very first of Madeleine Mitchell’s Loft Concerts when William sang, to riotous applause, Jake Thackray’s ballad of Sister Josephine. So I looked up his website and discovered that apart from being a successful composer, organist and pianist he was a seasoned cabaret artist. And, with his partner Michael Mates, had been performing Flanders and Swann songs since the mid 1990s. Based on his rendering of Sister Josephine (rather funnier in my memory than the Jake Thakray original) I reckoned that they would have Flanders and Swann to a T. And how great would that be in Hampstead Lane – the ultimate cabaret venue!!
It took a bit of persuading as William insisted that ‘Memories of Flanders and Swann’ had really been retired. But I prevailed and I am happy to say that Messrs Flanders and Swann will be joining us on Monday July 8th. And you will be happy to hear that, among others, everyone’s favourites will be there:
The Gnu
The Gas Man Cometh
The Sloth
Misalliance
Transport of Delight
Slow Train
A Song of the Weather
and – of course – The Hippopotamus
So I hope that everyone will be in good voice!
As always doors will open at 6.30pm for a glass of wine (to lubricate your voice) – the performance will start at 7pm and will be followed by a buffet supper.
Buy tickets here.
Everyone to whom I have mentioned this concert has been more than excited by the prospect so we suggest that you book early if you would like to come.
Meanwhile – don’t forget our May concerts….
Wednesday May 15th – Lunchtime at Hampstead Lane
Carys Barnes, a viola student with the Philharmonia’s MMSF Instrumental Fellowship Programme, and her Slate Quartet will be giving a lunchtime recital.
£15 to include a glass of wine. Book here.
Thursday 16th May – Hampstead Lane
Declan Hickey – solo guitar recital. Tickets cost £30 to include wine and a buffet supper.
There are now only three tickets left for this concert.
£30 to include wine and a buffet supper. To book, go here.
Sunday 26th May – Highgate Society lunchtime concert
Anna Scott sings and plays Americana classics.
For more details and to book go here.
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