Despite my ever-growing list of stuff that I need to tackle in these busy two weeks off, I jumped at an invitation to see last night’s Twist and Shout: The British Invasion performance at the Grand Theatre. I haven’t been out in ages, and I haven’t been to the theatre in ages plus a week!

We first went for dinner at the best Indian restaurant in London – Massey’s. We shared the most delectable tandoori mahi, as well as garlic naan, palak paneer (spinach and cheese curd) and khumb matar (peas and mushrooms in thick, spicy tomato gravy). Had I been hit by a truck on the way out the door I’d have died happy. But lucky me, I survived the rest of the evening and even luckier me, the show was great too! It was upbeat, humorous and visually dazzling complete with groovy costumes, colourful sets, and BIG hair.

_{not the greatest photo but the only one I can find online}

The stage was designed to look like the set of a 1960’s TV variety show (a la Ed Sullivan). It was four years to the day that The Beatles first landed in America, and “The Roy Solomon Show” was airing a revue to celebrate the many British acts that made that period in music history so toe-tappingly, sing-alongingly unforgettable.

Strung up in both corners were two black and white monitors alternately broadcasting news and film footage from the era, the action on stage, and commercials (really funny nostalgic ones for Alka Seltzer, Dristan, Heinz pickles etc). The host of the show, “Roy Solomon” came out in front of the sparkling stage curtain to introduce the acts, which began and ended with The Beatles, but including so many more such as Dusty Springfield, the Dave Clarke Five, Lulu and Procol Harum. And the dancers accompanying almost every song were incredible too – pure energy in their movement and pure joy in their faces.

I’m tired today, of course, after such a late night, but it was a lovely fun evening out – a real treat for me.