If Wolverhampton was anything to go by, Michael Barrymore’s star is shining again.
The TV funnyman was given a rousing welcome and standing ovation as he made his stage comeback.
The entertainer made his debut as the old miser Scrooge at The Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton last night.
It was a brave comeback for the troubled star who moved to New Zealand and out of the limelight after being embroiled in scandal following the death of 31-year-old Stuart Lubbock at his home in 2001.
His showbiz career looked to be over after the mysterious death and the ensuing media furore.
But his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year saw him return to the small screen before landing the role in Scrooge the Musical.
Strike It Lucky, Barrymore and My Kind of People made him the most popular light entertainer of his generation.
And last night he was back facing the public and hoping to rekindle his place in the nation’s hearts.
Stuart Lubbock’s father Terry - who wants Barrymore to reveal more about the circumstances surrounding his son’s death - was in the Wolverhampton audience. But it looked as though he failed to put a dampener on the star’s career revival.
The audience delivered Barrymore an amazing cheer as soon as he appeared on stage shouting “Cratchit” at his put-upon clerk.
They cheered for him throughout and showed their appreciation with a standing ovation as the curtain came down on his first night back on stage in Britain.
“It’s wonderful to be back home,” he told the audience as he left the stage, almost overcome with emotion.
In the Bill Kenwright production, Barrymore takes on the role of the grumpy Scrooge in his stride.
Just as Barrymore has been haunted by his own demons, the spirits of past, present and future pay Ebenezer a visit in the Dickens’ Christmas classic.
Barrymore was a true entertainer - with his facial expressions saying it all.
The comic and serious threads in the musical were well balanced.
The pain on his face in the opening scenes as he bellowed out that he hated Christmas and hated people was very convincing.
And then there were the moments of tenderness when the Ghost of Christmas Past took him back to his one true love and the Ghost of Christmas Future presented us with Tiny Tim’s demise. It all pulled at the heartstrings.
And Barrymore and the all-singing and all-dancing cast captivated the audience with songs such as I Like Life, I’ll Begin Again, Thank You Very Much and Sing A Christmas Carol.
And as far as first night nerves go, Barrymore wasn’t showing any although on one occasion he referred to Bob Cratchit as Tom - but he amused the crowd telling them “well it is an emotional moment”.
Geoffrey Abbot was wonderful as a kind and loving Cratchit and Barry Howard of Hi-De-Hi was an excellent Jacob Marley.
The singing children, all from Tettenhall College, did themselves proud in particular Alastair Winning who gave a heart-rending performance as Tiny Tim.
With the help of magical illusions and effects the stage was transformed into a singing and dancing Victorian Christmas card.
Ghosts appeared on stage as if by magic. And it was actually magic as Paul Kieve, the man behind the illusions in Harry Potter, provided the special effects.
Jacob Marley’s sudden appearance from behind an open door as Scrooge closes it produced a huge reaction from the audience.
Other effects included the appearance of The Ghost of Christmas Present, who turned up on a throne and piles of food, on Scrooge’s bed, which is seen to be empty only moments earlier.
And the Ghost of Christmas Past walks through a mirror and disappears, leaving behind just her cape in Scrooge’s arms.
All in all, it’s entertaining family festive entertainment which reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas - and provides Barrymore with his comeback platform.
Scrooge the Musical runs at Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre until Saturday.
By Maria Cuisine
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