The Ukelele Man – The story of George Formby.
Written and performed by Marcel Cole. Featuring Katie Cole. Directed by Mirjana Ristevski. Star Theatres. Adelaide Fringe. March 4-9 2024
Reviewed by Peter Wilkins
Marcel Cole as George Formby
The Ukelele Man, - The story of George Formby
Written and performed by Marcel Cole and featuring his real life mother Katie Cole in supporting roles is a theatrical gem. It sparkles with talent and glows with entertainment. Winner of the Adelaide Fringe’s Best Cabaret Award, this brilliant banjolele show about the life of British star entertainer George Formby will strum the strings of your heart and take you on a whirlwind tour of the ukulele man’s amazing life.
Katie Cole as Beryl in The Ukelele Man
I remember Formby with his little
ukulele in his hand, but Cole’s performance and remarkable account of Formby’s
fame, fortune and rollercoaster life left me in awe of Formby’s stardom, his
unique talent as a musician, entertainer and film actor. Above all, Cole
captured the very essence of Britain’s highest ranking entertainer and money
earner of the mid twentieth century. Cole is no actor simply standing on a
stage and recounting the life of Formby. He is Formby. It is Formby telling a
bewitched audience about his childhood and his entertainer father George Formby
Senior, his lack of education, his wartime experience entertaining the troops
in France, his marriage to his entertainer/manager wife Beryl played with wonderful eccentricity by Katie Cole,
who also plays supporting character an accompanies Cole with piano, violin and
ukulele.We learn that after a nervous breakdown when his fame fades, Beryl
declares him insane and commits him to a lunatic asylum. It is a testament to
his resilience and his popularity that
Formby revives his fortunes and gains renewed fame in the swinging Sixties as
the Beatles are beginning to make their mark.
Formby lives again in this magical show about the shy and bashful star of stage, radio TV and film. It’s enough to make me rush for a Formby rush on You tube and recall that naughty but oh so nice When I’m Cleaning Windows or remember the thrill of leaning at a lamp post at the corner of the street as a certain little lady goes by. Oh me. Oh my I hope the little lady comes by. Cole invites an audience largely of yesteryearers to sing along and it is obviousl that they not only remember thelittle man from Wiggan but are only too eager to join in with a chorus that they know from long ago. Cole, under the astute direction of Mirjana Ristevski, hits a perfect note every time with his adroit mastery of the uke and the banjulele and his convincing command of the Wiggan brogue.
The Ukelele Man is sheer entertainment and joyful fun. In a life of ups and downs Formby remains an inspiration to struggling artists and a role model for those with the talent to entertain. Cole is brilliant. He plays superbly, moves mercurially, taps skillfully and inhabits the character with absolute conviction. In the intimate space of the Star Theatre I was transported to the vaudeville of Formby Senior when the recording of his song was played. I was taken to the country halls of England and the airwaves of the radios of times past. A wave of nostalgia swept over me as Cole and Katie brought a bygone era to life. It will warm the cockles of every heart.
The Ukelele Man has been touring and may well pass your way. If it , dow whatever needs to be done to get a ticket. Not only will you learn of the amazing life and talent of a simple bloke from Lancashire. You will be transported, uplifted and entertained by Marcel Cole’s brilliant performance of the Ukelel Man.