Audlem enjoys a touch of Las Vegas cabaret

'Sold Out' signs around the village always heighten the anticipation – and there cannot have been a disappointed patron at a stunningly sophisticated Cabaret In The Village last night. A packed out candle-lit Public Hall (oh, how the hall has changed for the better) was treated to a musical evening that brought all the glitter of a Las Vegas cabaret to Audlem.

Garth Bardsley is not just a superb singer – a quick glance at his credits, including playing the Phantom in the London and Manchester productions of The Phantom of the Opera tells you all you need to know of his vocal qualities – but his lucid and insightful descriptions of the cabaret acts, the composers, the performers and the venues, made this an evening to remember for a very long time.

Garth, who moved to the Audlem area six years ago, was backed by the Sandra Lambert Trio – she on piano with Jeff Lardner on drums – including one stunning solo – and Dominic Howles on double bass. Sandra Lambert has backed numerous international cabaret artists, is also musical director to Helen Shapiro, and recently recorded her own debut album Too Late Now. On last night's showing, she is a pianist of extraordinary talent and is understandably sought after by many cabaret artists.

Last night, we were delighted to hear, was the world premiere of Garth and Sandra's new show. It must have been rehearsed to perfection, however, as it was a beautifully paced, amusing and superbly delivered performance over two hours, indeed longer as the loud cries of Encore were answered with two additional numbers.

We had a hilarious 'localised' version of the Cole Porter classic Let's Do It', where we heard that not only ADAS, ASET and the Fish & Chip shop 'Do It' but even the 'boys and girls behind the Public Hall, Do It'. An intriguing music lesson on the similarities and harmonic differences of Goldfinger and Moon River soon followed, before the first set concluded with Fly Me To The Moon, appropriately so with a stunning lunar eclipse underway outside in the night sky.

The ladies of TAVA (Touring Arts Visiting Audlem) laid on excellent food during the interval and were rewarded soon after with a personalised The Lady Is A Tramp by Garth. A sumptuous trip through the works of Perry Como, Frank Sinatra and Anthony Newley finished off a quite magnificent cabaret show.

Garth has even written the book A Portrait of Anthony Newley. It's been warmly received, and Paul Gambaccini, who probably knows more about music than the rest of the world put together, wrote of Garth: "I congratulate you on your talent".

We can only add our congratulations, including to TAVA. You, Garth and The Sandra Lambert Trio did Audlem proud last night.

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