BWW Reviews: JUST JIM DALE, Vaudeville Theatre, May 29 2015

It's a delight to see a showman of the old school back in the West End. Jim Dale takes us through his music hall roots (and teenage dance classes) to pop stardom to Carry On to Hollywood, showing some nimble footwork along the way as well as vocal cords that are still in excellent shape.

We're treated to excerpts from Me and My Girl and Barnum, Coward's Fumed Oak and Nichols' Joe Egg, as well as snippets from Dale's first-ever comedy routines and a merciless impression of Kenneth Williams. It's slick, swift, and thoroughly, thoroughly showbiz - names dropped range from George Martin to Laurence Olivier.

And you can tell this show in its original incarnation did well on Broadway. I wanted a little less glitz, perhaps' I found myself wishing to find out something more of Dale himself rather than the glossy representation of nostalgia we're served up in the space of the two hours. Even so, It's a fun evening, and you'll find yourself cackling even if you don't think music hall or Carry On humour is to your tastes.

Just Jim Dale has a limited run at the Vaudeville Theatre.