Matt Monro Forum

Has anyone ever attended a show where royalty were in the audience?

I was at such a show around 1985 at the Edinburgh Playhouse, now I have been in several beautiful theatres but The Playhouse depresses me whenever I walk into the auditorium. I feel a theatre should be a bright cheerful place and that's why I like our Kings and Festival theatres so much - The Playhouse has dull decor and dull lighting infact if you sit in the stalls you can hardly see to read your programme, and it's still the same as I was there last month.

Anyway, I digress - to return to 1985 and the Royal show, the Royaly in attendance that night were The Queen and Prince Philip and Princess Anne and the show was for the Commonwealth Games.

On walking into the theatre I could not believe the transformation I have never seen the Playhouse look so good and never have since!!!

The cast was stunning and among those who took to the stage that night were:-

Shirley Bassey, Terry Wogan, Linda Evans (Krystle from Dynasty), Jacques Louisser, Juliet Prowse, Kirk Douglas, George Segal, Sarah Brightman, Robert Goulet, Bob Monkhouse and Rory Bremner, there may have been more but that's all I can remember.

I have seen Shirley Bassey several times in the past but she was absolutely brilliant that night, the sound and the musicians were all first class, Robert Goulet was also excellent.

An edited version of the show was televised the following week which I have on video, I must transfer it to dvd one day.

Just realised I posted this under fun & games when it should have been in entertainment world, Michele perhaps you can transfer it?

Terence on the Forum, from Malaysia is a great Shirley Bassey fan--he came over one year to see her in Cardiff.

George, my husband, in his early days , used to work in the theatre --as a doorman etc, and woirked in the theatre with the musicals of Ivor Novello, and often had the late King and Queen, Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth as visitors. He valways commented on how short Princess Margaret was. this is going back many years, as you can imagine.

As for me--no.

That sounds a splendid occasion at the Edinburgh Playhouse--I do not know if it was the same place that I went to for a Johnny Mathis concert-I think it was, and the rows of seats were so close to the row in front, you just could not move your knees--very uncomfortable.

You would have seen Johnny Mathis at either the Usher Hall or The Playhouse as I've seen him at both venues.

Talking of Ivor Novello with you being a Vince Hill fan do you have his album of Novello songs?

I really do think it was The Playhouse-the Usher Hsll does not ring any bells

Yes, I do have that LP in my collection.

mariana44 wrote:I really do think it was The Playhouse-the Usher Hsll does not ring any bells

Yes, I do have that LP in my collection.

No Marian, The Usher Hall doesn't ring the bells for everyone only a select few

That would explain it !!