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MADNESS, London
"The Greatest Show On Earth" is projected on the high screen at the back of the two-tiered, Hollywood-styled stage of The Dominion. Brightest pink-and-blue light bathes the set as the Nutty Ones bound on and into a booming "House Of Fun".
Chas cavorts and quicksteps in undertaker's coat and top hat like a battered Fred Astaire through "Bed And Breakfast Man" and "My Girl". Suddenly, to the opening strains of "The Sun And The Rain", up lifts the screen to reveal a quartet of violinists like shimmering white angels behind a gauzey curtin.
"Here's a serious one," says Suggs as "Have A Drink On Me" is accompanied by vintage clips of wartime films and the odd western.
Then Lee Thompson's sax grabs the spotlight for a superb "Embarrassment" while "Mrs Hutchinson" has a pyjama-ed patient and three crazed doctors running on and off stage.
It's movie time again, but now it's slightly distressing footage of laboratories, wildlife safaris and captive rats and rabbits.
Thankfully, the tone is lightened as Chas and Lee amuse us all by being silly whilst singing "Razor Blade Alley".
After a dramatic rendition of "Grey Day" amidst smoke and a long, almost dub-like finish comes much dancing in the aisles to "Madness" and "Baggy Trousers".
After violins on "Our House", it's the first of four encores with a seventeen-piece brass band in red jackets and dickie bows who have to squeeze their way on stage.
Encore number two and on strolls Mr Elvis Costello, who's come "all the way from Vegas" to sing, uncle-like, his version of "Tomorrow's Just Another Day". He floats coolly off, some of the crowd obviously bewildered and glad to get back to some serious stomping.
Madness don't just play a gig - they sing it, dance it and act it and, like their videos, each member performs in his own wacky way. There's always something different going on wherever you look.
"The Greatest Show On Earth?" It certainly was.
- Contributed by Fredd Boeuf
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