Bonkers yet brilliant performance with smattering of senior moments

An Evening with Mr Wonderful
Kenton Theatre
Tuesday, November 25

WELL, this was truly an evening to behold. I had some inkling of what to expect but “Legs” Larry Smith, Rodney Desborough Slater and Roger Ruskin Spear, of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, and their guests outdid themselves.

Presented by insightful compère, Michael Livesley, we were given a taste of what it must have been like in the group’s heyday — eccentric, funny, musical and basically completely and utterly bonkers.

Random moments included an advertising banner in the background with a nod to the sponsors, “Larcy Boy Motors”, a giant knapsack “mobile phone” device and giant heads and the first part kicked off with a nod to “Basingstoke”.

It began with singer-songwriter Ray Williams, granddaughter of composer John Williams, who played some folky songs on guitar. She was followed by Miss Pamela Des Barres, who took us through some of the highlights (and lowlights) of growing up in California, with a love of British music from Beatlemania to the Rolling Stones.

Dipping into her teen years via diaries and memoirs, she solemnly explained that girls who were Beatles fans could only congregate in groups of four (one Beatle each) and that she had cultivated an intense dislike of Jane Asher, as she was into Paul McCartney.

Moving into a keen interest in Mick Jagger, Pamela said she had met Captain Beefheart while at high school, then Frank Zappa and many other musicians.

The original groupie, she became a member of the GTOs (Girls Together Outrageously), with an album produced by Zappa.

Musical interludes were brought to us by Guy Dagul and Dave Glasson on piano, Susie Honeyman on violin and Richmond Harding on sitar.

Flip Webster was the “tea lady” and provided many comic moments, while the two “mechanics” were replaced by Tony Whooley (also a “parking warden”) and Richmond Harding, doubling up on their other roles. Richmond had to very quickly change into his sitar attire. For the second half, Michael gathered together Smith (Mr Wonderful), Slater and Spear, for a chat on the sofa, much merriment, a few senior moments and even more moments which showed that, actually, these performers were all young at heart.

Highlights included Spear’s iteration of the old joke, “You don’t say…” with audience interaction and his attire was simply outstanding — a holographic blazer and hot pants, over teal sequinned leggings.

The camaraderie between the remaining Bonzos was brilliant. At one point back in the day, they had all been rehearsing in the studio, when in walked Paul McCartney. Spear told us he was unsure as to who he was, saying, “I thought he was there to fix the ventilation.”

Paul had come in and sat down at the piano, proceeding to play a new tune he was working on, called Hey Jude. After 15 minutes or so of Paul’s tinkling, he was interested in feedback and Neil Innes remarked, “Hmm… goes on a bit.”

Slater, who may or may not have forgotten his hearing aid, and Spear asked “Legs” about the time they lost him from the tour bus, but he got to the next venue before them — they’d never figured out how he’d done it.

Additionally, while travelling around America, the Bonzos ran into some rednecks. The men asked of the band, “Where are all your guns and drugs?” The reply was they didn’t have any. “How do you defend yourselves?” asked the rednecks. “Good manners,” replied Viv Stanshall.

Apparently, George Harrison had been a massive fan and there were dreams of a combination involving the Beatles, the Rutles, the Pythons and the Bonzos at one point.

There was a chance for some fans to ask questions and clearly there were some superfans in the audience, all thrilled to have some interaction.

“Legs” ended the evening with a lovely presentation to Franky Cookson, his partner and also his publicist, who had also arranged accommodation for show members travelling from London and Liverpool. Bravo!

Natalie Aldred