The Opera Dudes, Cliddesden, near Basingstoke

25th February 2012

Cliddesden

For Hog the Limelight

Blooming Basingstoke

 

Saturday it was off to Cliddesden, which is apparently nowhere near Basingstoke!   

The Dudes had actually spent the night at the Holiday Inn in Basingstoke and learned quite a bit about the town's illustrious history. Having produced such visionary independent spirits in the past as Oliver Cromwell, Liz Hurley, Tara Palmer-Tompkinson and Jet from the Gladiators, it is no surprise that this jewel in Hampshire's resplendent crown was ready for Tim, Neil the Opera Dudes and another night of Annette. 

We also learned that Anne Boleyn stayed in Basingstoke on the night before her marriage to Henry The Eighth - although I'm not sure the Holiday Inn was doing their two-for-one Bed and Breakfast Weekend Sizzler back then.

Annette 'Boleyn' The Men Over!

 

Meanwhile, Neil The Sick-th was still suffering from his mystery virus so the emergency services of Nurse Wardell were required once again. She nearly caused a medical emergency herself by raising the pulses of the gentlemen of Cliddesden to an almost intolerable level.

Wardellotta lasagne!

The Dudes were immediately made to feel at home when another trusty and delicious Lasagne was served up by the delightful Alison. 

The boys had to eat it all as Ms Wardell doesn't eat meat - but somehow they managed. The diva stuck to fish pie - an M&S ‘Codfathers Of Croon’ special. 

The show was another huge success - even got a standing ovation at the end - unless the audience were trying to get a last view of the pocket-sized soprano.

The Opera Dudes in Goodworth Clatford, Hampshire

Friday the 27th of Feb 2012

Goodworth Clatford

For Hog the Limelight

Mystery virus hits Opera World

By our Opera Correspondents Fergus O' Gargle and Lucy Phlegming

The world of opera was struck to its core this week as one of the top stars of stage, screen and Rural Touring was laid low by a mystery virus. The world of entertainment was rocked as leading doctors were baffled by the condition of Opera 'Dude' Neil Allen. The non Bafta (Builders Are Future Tenors Actually) award-winning star started showing unusual symptoms at the beginning of the week; complaining of 'not feeling terribly well' and 'a bit of a sore throat', the international singing sensation was rushed to his local chemist for tests, cough-sweets and Lemsip.

Doctors finally identified the superstar's condition as suffering from rare virus Neuroticus Takealotofmedicus Tenoronthejobicus and they immediately prescribed rest, bed and a little tonic. The little tonic soon appeared in the form of pint-sized operatic dynamo Annette Wardell, who was despatched as a matter of emergency to provide much-needed medical relief, high notes and stilettos, something that the Dudes have lacked in the past few years.

  La Donna Is On Her Mobile!

Annette Warell

Knowing that the diminutive diva was already on the way to provide her unique brand of rescue remedy, the Dudes finally ventured back into Hampshire on behalf of Hog The Limelight to wow the audiences of Goodworth Clatford and Cliddeson. 

Goodworth Clatford is nothing whatsoever like Upper Clatford.

A million miles away from its northerly neighbour in every respect, it was therefore somewhat of a surprise for the Dudes to be greeted by the fishy decorations that had somehow migrated south since the Dudes' visit to 'Upper'.

The good people of Goodworth Clatford had been warned of Neil's predicament and on hand was a welcoming committee of Mary, the lovely caretaker, Margaret, our literary host and a couple of guys with a dog who wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

The diva ate Annette (an’ ate – geddit!) Annette....

Annette Wardell

Industrial quantities of lasagne were being prepared, including the vegetarian variety for the medicinal soprano - boy, she can certainly pack away a bowl of lasagne - phwoar!! - and soon the artistes had enough fuel in the tank to contemplate the heavy task of performance.

 

The show was hastily re-written to incorporate the talents of the diminutive diva and before they knew it the audience were being treated to buy two, get the third free! We didn't notice any complaints from the men, although there was a plea at half-time for the ladies to get a bit more attention!

 

The Opera dudes in Huntley, Gloucestershire

18th February 2012

Huntley Village Hall

For Air in G

Mid February and the intrepid Dudes set off for a weekend of their usual mix of opera, swing and show-stopping comedy and singing in Gloucestershire on behalf of Air In G.

Mission Improbable Show

Saturday night saw us in Huntley  a different proposition altogether after Edge the previous night. All we knew was that we had to cross the motorway and head into Forest country. Watch your backs, people said; never venture into the Forest alone, they said. Cross the Wye Valley and you are letting yourself in for nothing but sheep, shamans and spooky stories! Of course that's all rubbish, isn't it? It's all folklore and superstition- surely? 

The people there are just like you and me. We all eat the same food, breathe the same air, talk the same language…

Gertrude

So we arrived at our destination, the quite Village of Huntley, go to our digs for the night and meet our hosts. "What do you do then?" we politely enquire of our delightful hostess. "Oh, I'm a pagan witch" she replies. Right, we’re out of here!!!

The House was four hundred years old, had a look of the Hansel and Gretel's about it and came with its own ghosts? On entering we were confronted by several witches hanging from the ceilings, Sharons favorite witch was called Gertrude. Spooky!!

Of course, they are perfectly lovely people, not so far removed from ourselves, bar the odd obsession with frogs and, before long, the tea and conversation is flowing. Thus reassured and, we think, prepared for anything we make our way to the Village Hall and set up the show. As we do, several people come in and offer us their unsolicited wisdom: 'you'd better be good tonight or the audience will let you know' and 'this lot are not like May Hill you know' and 'you'll be lucky to get out of here alive!!

Finally the show is under way and all our fears are dispelled. The audience members are as warm and appreciative as they are numerous and soon the laughter and applause can be clearly heard above the beating of the bat's wings, the cackling in the kitchen and the distant hum of dismembering chainsaws! 

Neil had lots of ladies to cast his spell on as he serenaded a few of the them during the show. Never have we seen so many women at a Dudes show in a Village Hall and they seemed to love it.

The Opera Dudes in Egde, Gloucestershire

17th Feb 2012

Egde Village Hall

For Air in G

Mid February and the intrepid Dudes set off for a weekend of their usual mix of opera, swing and show-stopping comedy in Gloucestershire on behalf of Air In G.

It is a commonly held misconception that showbusiness is a glamorous life.

A couple of hours on the M42, trailing the ubiquitous Mr Stobart, reading adverts for prostrate relief in Motorway service stations toilets and listening to Radio 5 Live can soon make even the most star struck long for the glamour of the water-cooler, the office stapler and the promise of the index-linked pension. 

However, sometimes there is a small pot of gold at the end of the tarmac rainbow and you emerge from the travel gloom in a jewel of a place whose beauty revives and reinvigorates you and makes you feel in the mood for entertaining!

Bon jour!!

Gloucestershire harbours many secret treasures and the village of Egde is just such a place. 
All small windy roads, rolling hills and hidden houses on the approach, then suddenly you arrive at the Village Green, park in the small (single) parking spot by the Village Hall and step outside to the familiar rural bovine greeting which assaults your nose and is music to your ears. Delightful!

 The Village Hall is not large - a couple of decent sized sitting rooms would do it - but they clearly know a thing or two about community and about filling spaces here. We have been in venues twice the size where they struggle to hit 50, but in Edge, there were 70 people comfortably crammed in and ready for a sing song. 

Great turnout and great atmosphere. Lively crew too - liked to have their say, wanted to be in on the act as much as possible, especially Malcolm! I won't repeat some of his lines as we'll probably use them in the next show but he certainly provided us with some extra laughs on Friday.

The locals duly arrived  - mainly on foot – and they were an impressive bunch, as delightful and friendly as they were sartorially blessed....

As soon as extra seats were found, the show was under way, Tim and Neil were in full flow singing socks off and the audience were happily munching the gourmet canapés provided by Carolyn and her team...
 

Actually this is Honey Carolyn's Old Donkey. She has seen three male Donkeys off in her time and is still in good nick at 30 years of age!!

The Opera Dudes at Botley Market Hall, Hampshire

Saturday the 11th of February 2012

Botley Market Hall

For Hog the Limelight 

 
We have been ruminating on the life of celebrities this week, reading about the downfalls of a life in showbiz - the stresses of touring, living in the public eye and generally dealing with the hazards of fame. To be honest, we don't know what all the fuss is about….

We prepared for Week 2 of our three month worldwide (almost) tour, heading off in the tour bus (fiat van) to the South Coast and Hampshire; not so much sun, sea and sandwiches as traffic, tribulations and technical problems. 

On Saturday we had to travel all the way to Botley, a gruelling journey of at least 15 miles from Hanger Farm Arts Centre. 

The weather was beautiful; we visited the coast for inspiration and a jacket potato, managed to successfully avoid the papparazi and arrived at the very grand and auspicious looking Botley Market Hall, resplendent behind a faux classical portico.

No facade in the welcome we received however; you can really judge your level of fame by the reception you get and in Botley Market Hall - or as we like to think of it, Botleigh Manor Hall - we were clearly top of the tree. 

I mean, does Tony Bennett get Fish and Chips, Louise's Apple Pie and all the tea and coffee he can drink? I don't think so!

 

To be honest - and I don't think we're boasting here, it's just a fact - as we walked in the hall, you were instantly aware of the whole room lighting up. Was it mere coincidence that they were testing their new LED stage set? I don't know!

A few more technical problems, but nothing was going to stop us from entertaining our adoring fans. Comments on the evening included,

                      "It was fantastic" 


There was something for everyone - warmth, sweetness, lightness, sauce, nourishment, spice - and then we had a show after the fish and chips and apple pie."

The hall was full of Botley's finest - plus a couple from Hedge End, but then you can't have everything. 

The audience were soon rapt - just like their chips - and we left them shouting for more - at least, it sounded like more - sometimes those first consonants are hard to make out! I think they enjoyed the Opera Dudes variety of singing, dancing (yes dancing!) and comedy.

All that was left was to sign the odd autograph - well invoice actually - and retire to our delightful celebrity accommodation care of Derek and Louise, complete with ensuite chicken coop and complementary skiffle boards.

So we return to Nottingham with all the luxury and extravagance that the combined efforts of Fiat's upholsterers and Welcome Break's tireless staff can afford, happy in the knowledge that Simon Cowell and all his wing-footed minions can rest easy, knowing that showbiz is in good hands. Strangely, most of the traffic seems to be going in the opposite direction - maybe the press got the dates wrong and the Doodlies think we're performing tonight?!

The Opera Dudes at Hanger Farm Arts Centre, Hampshire.

10th February 2012

Hanger Farm Arts Centre, Hampshire.

For Hog the Limelight

The Codfathers of Croon

The Opera Dudes have been ruminating on the life of celebrities this week, reading about the downfalls of a life in showbiz - the stresses of touring, entertaining and living in the public eye and generally dealing with the hazards of fame. 

To be honest, we don't know what all the fuss is about….

We prepared for Week 2 of our three month worldwide (almost) tour, heading off in the tour bus (fiat van) to entertain the folk  of the South Coast and Hampshire; not so much sun, sea and sandwiches as traffic, tribulations and technical problems. Ah well, that’s showbiz. 

It all began in Totton,  to the left of Southampton on the map. Driving through a housing estate thinking we must be lost, we suddenly alighted upon Hanger Farm Arts Centre, a former 17th century barn now converted into the most lovely theatre space.

Its Dean and Neil?

Luckily the press hadn't got wind of our arrival yet so we were able to unload without too much difficulty. In fact the place was deserted - we learned that the technical team was stuck in Cheltenham - apparently his Morris Minor had broken down - but a replacement was on the way.

Still, we were in a lovely theatre with a full rig, so what could go wrong? Well, nearly everything, as it happens. 

As we started to sound-check, it became clear that there was an issue with the in-house PA. Never mind, we said, we'll use our trusty Bose PA system - easy to set up and it works a treat. Not on Friday 10th Feb in Totton it doesn't!!

The amp wouldn't kick up properly, so we had to resort to wheeling in another speaker on a trolley. At that point we felt like wheeling in another act on a trolley!

Anyway, the show must go on and the replacement techie arrived eventually - a lovely guy who turned out to be the most amazingly motivated 17 year old on the planet. He sorted the lights and did a sound check and we were finally ready to  go, with 10 mins to spare. No time to worry about the show.

There had been some concern about the size of audience - would there be room enough to cope with the hordes of screaming Doodlies (as our dedicated fan base are now known) but luckily in the end we didn't really need the police cordon to help seat the capacity crowd at the five tables in the auditorium. 

At last the Codfathers Of Croon were in business - dodgy business, maybe, but business as usual! Several audience members had to be restrained...in their cars...as they drove home...due to The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations 1993, but not before they had proclaimed themselves thoroughly entertained.

I make the ladies "qviver"

The most discerning and forthright member of the audience was young Adam, who came up on stage to help Tim and Neil deliver a much-needed singing lesson. 

Not only that, his comments and contributions (aka heckling) during the show were as entertaining as they were perspicacious. 

At the end of our ridiculous German set we walk off stage to beer music and then return almost immediately to sing some sublime operetta, at which point Adam shouted "They're back" (well spotted); then when Neil left the stage in a huff, Adam said "O don't go, you're brilliant" (creep!) and finally, during the piano duet, he opined, clear as a bell, "It's just like the Headmaster and a naughty schoolboy" (spot on!!) 

I don't know what your problem is, Billy Connolly!

 
 

The Opera Dudes in Ickleton Cambridgeshire

4th Feb 2012

Ickleton Village Hall

This weekend saw the Opera Dudes in Cambridgeshire armed and ready for action. Tim 'Walking In The Air' Lole and Neil 'Ranulph Fiennes' Allen braving the elements to bring entertainment and musical fun to the inhabitants of rural Cambridgeshire on behalf of ADeC Rural Touring. 

On Saturday, your intrepid explorers had to venture all of six miles to entertain the village of Ickleton - or Lickle Ickleton as we like to think of it. 

Here we found the Albert of Village Halls - vast and voluminous with more than enough headroom for any passing giraffe! The Hall quickly filled up just as the snow began to fall.

However, a couple of drinks in them and the capacity crowd were soon warmed up, laughing and singing along - especially the very excitable ladies table to our left, who turned out to be the local music teacher and her entourage!

 

Tie your dicky up!!

We had a great evening – a fantastic audience, who seemed to enjoy the variety of music.

They were particularly appreciative when they were finally treated to some serious culture - a Rachmaninov piano solo - once Tim had managed to get Neil off the stage for five minutes!

Our reception was as warm as the roads were freezing. After the last number, the audience enveloped the Dudes in rapturous applause - meanwhile the heavens had enveloped the Dudemobile - aka the grey van - in a shed-load of snow. 

Its snow good being like that!

There was no way we were getting out of Ickleton alive that night except as Just A Couple Of Cornettos! 

So we accepted the hospitality of Pam and Pete and, instead of facing the snow-locked roads of Cambridgeshire, drank a fair amount of Spanish sunshine out of a bottle.....The perfect end to a great night.

Pam Fearn........ "Ickleton loves the Opera Dudes - its official. What a great night - heaps of talent and smashing guys. Glad you made it home safely."

The Opera Dudes Entertain In Thriplow, Cambridgeshire

3rd Feb 2012

Thriplow Village hall

This weekend saw the Opera Dudes entertaining in Cambridgeshire armed and ready for action.Tim 'Walking In The Air' Lole and Neil 'Ranulph Fiennes' Allen braving the elements to bring entertainment and musical fun to the inhabitants of rural Cambridgeshire on behalf of ADeC Rural Touring. 



 
 Friday night saw the Dudes at Thriplow - pronounced Triplow.  

We were greeted by the incomparable Barbara - more of her later - and the Three Ds (or is that Tree Ds?) - Derek and the two Davids. The stage was set, the 'dress circle' erected and the lighting sorted - what a team! Barbara was the perfect host and her hospitality was only matched by her loquacity!  

                  The unforgettable " piano duet "

You have such a nice touch!!

The audience seemed a little nervous in the first half - not quite sure what they had let 

themselves in for - and the folk on the dress circle thought they were safe until Neil clambered up there for the singing of La Donna E Mobile. 

However, they warmed up quickly and seemed to enjoy the rollercoaster ride of the singing and comedy that is the Opera Dude show. 

Come on don't be shy!!

The most discerning member of the audience was the 7 year old girl who sat on the front row, stayed for the whole show and proclaimed sagely at the end

'My very favourite bit was Neil's eyebrows'!!

We stayed the night and most of the next day with Barbara, who is a force of nature. We had half the Dramatic Society back for a drink and we learned all about Barbara's amazing life and work. What an inspiration!

Adrian Dent......Went to see these Guys in Thriplow last night, excellent Music, brilliant singers, Tim's grade 3 piano skills put to great effect, comedy had you crying with laughter, if you see these guys are near you don't hesitate to go and see them, you will really have an excellent evening

 

Harry Jones .......Every so often in life you stumble across a moment so gloriously funny that you shut your eyes, shake uncontrollably and cry - that happened to me tonight at the opera dudes evening I was at - their singing is rather splendid too. Was worth the cycling on a freezing cold night to get too and must learn Neil's ability to sway the ladies with his charms! (As a result of the cycling I was the scruffy bloke in the fleece and jeans in the second row lol)