David Essex in All the fun of the fair, Richmond Theatre

I’m embarrassed to admit that as a teenager I was utterly in love with David Essex. I had all of his albums and eagerly watched his two great films (“That’ll be the day” and “Stardust”). I even went to a pantomime a few years ago where he was an excellent, charismatic and funny Robinson Crusoe.

So I joined the packed theatre – noting that the majority of the people there were women of a certain age. No doubt the loyal members of his fan club. Or possibly some new converts following his recent appearance in EastEnders.

Anyway, I waited with great anticipation for the show to start – worrying a little that I may have seen it before. Now the plot isn’t too bad – I guess a vague nod to Romeo and Juliet with widower Levi (David Essex) – owner of a funfair – watching his son Jack (Rob Compton) fall in love with and run off with Alice (Tanya Robb). Alice is the daughter of Harvey (David Burrows), a local businessman with a henchman Druid (Barry Bloxham) and a dislike of gypsy travelling circus folk. Meanwhile, Rosa (Louise English), the fortune teller, is in love with Levi and has a daughter Mary (Susan Hallam-Wright) who is also in love with Jack. There’s a simple but philosophical guy called Chris (Gareth Leighton) who is Jack’s friend. So maybe it’s more Midsummer Night’s Dream? Sadly though the pace was a bit off – with elements that dragged in both the first and second halves.

The staging was wonderful – the stalls and colourful lights of a fairground, carousel horses descending from the ceiling, real dodgems gliding across the stage and motorbikes (where the chaps all wore leathers). There were a couple of well-orchestrated fight scenes – although a couple of prop malfunctions reduced the tension a little. The dancing was enthusiastic but somewhat lacking in finesse – and my colleague commented on this before I mentioned it.

Naturally, there were lots of David Essex songs – Winter’s Tale, All the fun of the fair (“Roll on up see the main attraction, get your money ready to step inside” – I think I was the only one singing), Hold me close, Rock on, Me and My Girl (Nightclubbing), Street Fight, Gonna make you a star, Lamplight, If I could, Silver dream machine and Here we are all together. I didn’t recall the song Father and son from before but it was a really lovely number. But on many occasions it wasn’t David himself singing which was a little disappointing. Both me and my colleague checked that Jack wasn’t played by Essex’s real life son as he sounded extraordinarily like him.

Throughout David was his cheeky, relaxed, charming and self-effacing self – with a fabulous presence and real rapport with the audience - and in some parts he was the only thing preventing me from leaving. As you would expect from such an experienced actress, Louise English proided a solid performance and David Burrows produced a surprisingly good character portrayal. I think that the show may have made a star of Rob Compton who’s singing and acting skills were pretty neat – and he also had a physique to remember.

With what is happening in Dale Farm, the traveller community is in the media spotlight – so it is perhaps timely that the prejudice that afflicts similar groups is explored from a different perspective. The production is light hearted fun – but addresses some tougher ideas around prejudice and mature love – although the progress was a little slow in parts. I suspect that anyone who liked or likes David Essex will enjoy it immensely. It was a pleasure to see the cast, including David (although closely chaperoned), having a drink in the theatre bar afterwards, they are clearly a close team who enjoy their work.