Country Superstars Experience Brook Theatre, Chatham

Country Superstars Experience 

Brook Theatre, Chatham. 

With a yeehaaa and hoe down, I’m sat in anticipation of an evening of country music ahead.

The old Brook theatre is a great venue to bring a touch of the Wild West to Chatham. 

Stage
is set with a live 6 piece band with even a pedal steel, giving that
great country twang sound. It’s great and refreshing to see live music,
so as I sit waiting alongside my fellow audience members, who have
 donned their stetsons and spurs ready to hoe down the night away. 

The band strike and bang Dolly bursts out on the stage in all her sparkles, not just in her costume but her personality too. 

The
fabulously talented Sarah Jayne and Andy Crust take us on a rip roaring
evening of country. Sarah Jayne is without doubt an incredible Dolly
Parton, not only sounding incredibly like her, but the whole persona,
the mannerisms are uncanny, Dolly Is our host for the evening, and
introduces us to Johnny Cash, Billy Jo Spears, John Denver ( loved him)
Tammy Wynette was spookily similar. I was at this point like a child at
Christmas excited to see who’s next. Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Patsy
Cline and Kenny Rogers. Finalising with a superb duet from Kenny and
Dolly singing Islands in the Stream. 

Every
single one of them excellent, the look, the mannerisms and the vocals.
The attention to detail is spot on, down to belts, shoes,  jewellery
even lipstick! 

Clearly
Andy and Sarah Jayne have worked hard on bringing some of these country
greats to life and boy it flipping well works so well. 

The
whole production was slick, professional, smooth and bang up to date
with the inclusion of a projector screening Dolly in parts where a quick
change was needed. 

Andy
and Sarah Jayne were backed by the superb sounds of The Tennessee
Allstars headed by the multi talented Mick Hewitt. The band were tight,
on the ball and great to see them enjoying the evening smiling and
singing along with us.  

What blew me away was a Thursday night in Chatham in November a 400 seater venue was packed to the rafters, with only 2 people fronting.

 Got to say one of the most entertaining shows I’ve seen in a while, Dolly, Kenny I salute you.