eric's

By Catherine Jones on Sep 25, 08 10:35 AM

Being just slightly too young (and growing up 100 miles away into the bargain) I never experienced the phenomenon that was Eric's.
But watching Mark Davies Markham's new musical about the club last night gave me a faux nostalgia for the feel of the place - and a damned good evening out into the bargain.
While the subject matter, battling leukaemia, may not sound a barrel of laughs, the fact the plotline was based on Mark's own fight which was ultimately successful made it an uplifting evening.
And then there were the hilarious and affectionately-drawn larger than life characters we around here know so well.

Jayne Casey was in the audience.
Whether the likes of Ian McCulloch, Pete Burns, Pete Wylie or Julian Cope have seen their portrayal yet I don't know. And who knows what they will think if they do!
The characters made me laugh out loud, especially Sam Donovan as the ever-keen Wylie and Oliver Jackson as well-spoken, arty out of towner Julian Cope.
And Stuart Ellis did a pretty mean impersonation of Elvis Costello singing (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love and Understanding.
Apparently when Mark was researching the period, he spoke to most of the main Eric's protagonists, and each had their own - conflicting - recollection of events.
A wise voice (naming no names but she wears some kick-ass shoes) suggested he just write it his way.
And he has....