A Night at the Movies, Guy Barker-Ian Shaw, Drinkstone Village Hall, Saturday, June 9

A Night at the Movies, Guy Barker-Ian Shaw, Drinkstone Village Hall, Saturday, June 9

THIS homage to the music from the cinema saw two international musicians who regularly appear in some of the world's most prestigious concert venues performing in a former world war hut that now serves as a village hall.

A homely place it is too, and the near sell-out audience soon warmed to the performers.

Both musicians are keen film fans and it was clear they were well equipped to present such a show.

As well as the music from their favourite films there were anecdotes galore to go with it.

We learned, for instance, that actress Lauren Bacall did not have the voice to go with the role of a nightclub singer in the film, To Have and to Have Not, and so the singing voice came from Andy Williams, then aged 14.

Guy Barker demonstrated just how excellent a trumpeter he is by playing the theme tune from the Steve McQueen film, Bullitt, and there was hardly a dry eye in the place as Ian Shaw, gave a wistful and highly emotional version of The Man that Got Away, the Judy Garland version, from A Star is Born.

Shaw is a naturally gifted pianist, singer and all-round entertainer - he appeared as the devil in Gerry Springer the Musical - he regaled the audience with dozens of humorous tales of backstage life.

He recalled the legendary American trumpeter Chet Baker visiting Italy to play alongside pianist Roberto Mussolini, son of the Italian dictator. Baker, in a drug induced stupor for most of the time, did not speak to the pianist until the end of the shows, and then said “sorry about your dad”.

The duo played music from films such as I'm Old Fashioned, If I Were a Bell, and the Odd Couple, Wait Until Dark and La Dolce Vita.

Shaw's version of Moon River, from the film Breakfast at Tiffany's was another highly emotional offering and attracted a stand-up response from the audience.

A couple of Neil Hefti arrangements from Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple, followed and Messrs Barker and Shaw concluded with a cracking version of In the Heat of the Night,

featuring some rip-roaring trumpet playing from Guy Barker.

Naturally, there had to be an encore and the talented duo obliged with a humour laced version of Making Whoopee from a film starring Eddie Cantor.

It is not often that you get this sort of entertainment in a village hall. . . let's hope there's more to come! Alan Crumpton