The spice of life

Greer Morris-Clarke will perform songs from the show Dusty with Dunedin Operatic.
Greer Morris-Clarke will perform songs from the show Dusty with Dunedin Operatic.
They were huge once, variety concerts. The Commonwealth stopped whenever the Queen called for one. But the variety concert is a rarer treat these days, so with that in mind, we asked MC Doug Kamo for a few pointers to enjoying tonight's Star Regent Variety Concert.


Is there a minimum amount of variety required before you can promote your event as a variety concert?

No, and you can have as much variety as you like. Hence the name.

How many acts are needed?
Well, you don't want too many - just enough to give it variety but not so many that it becomes the Ben Hur of variety concerts.

Can you have more than one type of similar act, or is this contrary to the nature of a variety concert?
Yes, why not. We have four bands but they are all from different genres.

Do you need to have a member of the Royal Family in the audience?
We have our own royalty in Dunedin (and if not I will find a queen).

Does Tom Jones need to be on the bill?
Not if you have Dunedin's answer to Shirley Bassey - Gladys Hope.

Does the placing of an act give any indication of its entertainment value? For example, are acts just after the interval likely to be best, so you should make sure you are seated on time?
The placing of the acts is absolutely No 1. You don't run all of your big acts together, you spread them out and you drop in tonnes of humour all the time so people continue to enjoy the show.

If you don't like some acts in a variety concert, should you withhold applause?
No, clap in sympathy.

Should you applaud loudest for your favourite acts or try to be even-handed?
You should clap loudest for the MC.

Is the compere the most important part of a variety concert?
We will find out on Sunday morning.

Should he or she be able to play the spoons?
Not necessarily. I, for one, am better with a knife and fork.

Is there a panel of judges and if so, is one of them always grumpier than the rest?
Not since Simon Cowell left the building.

Will there be numbers to text your vote at the end of the show?
Just 111, "get me out of here".


TONIGHT'S SHOW

The Star Regent Variety Show features:

The Rat Pack - St Kilda Brass - The Verlaines - The Chaps - Catgut and Steel - Footspa - Irish Beat Dance School - Dunedin School of Ballet - Taieri Musical Society- Southern Sinfonia - Terence Dennis - Emma Fraser and Clare Barton - Dunedin Operatic - Gladys Hope - Denise Henderson Studio of Tap - Sunny Side Up - Ghillie Callum Club - Dunedin Harmony Chorus - Rasa School of Dance - Selwyn Ballet - The Sextet - Bagpiper Matt Fraser.

• Tickets from the Regent and Ticket Direct.

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement