Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (reviewed Wednesday 18 September).
It’s immediate from the outset that Marcel Cole is a rare gem in our theatre community. He has that glint in his eye and that old school charm that takes your fancy as soon as he appears on stage. He’s brimming with impeccable good manners and a healthy obsession for the characters he plays – his other show at Sydney Fringe where he embodied Charlie Chaplin got rave reviews.
The Ukulele Man: The Story of George Formby focuses on the titular real life British variety performer who entertained millions of troops during the war. During this 60-minute cabaret starring Marcel Cole and his mother Katie Cole, we learn about the influences that shaped and influenced George’s foray into showbusiness, including his complicated marriage to Beryl Ingham. Picking up the banjo and ukulele, Marcel regales tales and songs that was part of George Formby’s signature repertoire.
Marcel Cole eagerly wants to be liked, and he is liked, by an attentive, appreciative crowd that responds enthusiastically to his prompts (‘do you want to hear a song?’ / ‘Oh YES PLEASE, we do!!!’) If you’ve (admittedly) never heard of George Formby but love a trip down memory lane, this show will give you a taste of being part of that experience of being out there amongst the troops. Marcel even gets close among the crowd at one point to re-enact George’s intimate conversations with soilders on the frontline, their eyes on the enemy, their ears cocked for the punchline.
An interesting British war story I heard recently was that of a young boy who was sent to sing for the troops as a 12-year old, and, as a token of immense gratitude, they paid him in cigarettes. Tragically, every single one of the troops got slaughtered merely weeks after hearing him sing. It’s stories like these that give you goosebumps.
Marcel Cole’s show is full of these type of anecdotes, and his valiant performance as George Formby is truly a gift to the audience.
The Ukulele Man: The Story of George Formby is playing at Made in Sydney – PACT Centre for Emerging Artists as part of Sydney Fringe Festival until 21 September. For tickets and showtimes, go to https://sydneyfringe.com/events/the-ukulele-man-the-story-of-george-formby/
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CREDITS:
- Written and performed by Marcel Cole
- Featuring Katie Cole
- Directed by Mirjana Ristevski