The Chicago Blues Brothers

Three stars

Theatre Royal, Brighton, Sunday, July 21

“WE’VE played in Brighton four times and always have a different crowd,” says the Chicago Blues Brothers’ Jake impersonator.

And judging by the show it is no surprise – it is not something I’d go back and see again.

I had a bad feeling when walking into the Theatre Royal, something I wasn’t expecting beforehand.

I’m a huge Blues Brothers fan and their Motown Mission show seemed right up my street.

But on entering the theatre it was obvious I was one of the youngest people in the audience.

A crowd consisting mainly of people 65 and above should have given me an idea of what I was in for.

Unlike a lot of tribute shows I’ve seen, the Chicago Blues Brothers had a bare minimal stage production, and what they did have was rather embarrassing.

The music was fine and the songs went down well, but a backdrop of old images and awkward transitions on loop, and cheesy jokes in between hits, did nothing to add to the show.

It was clear that this was a show for the older audience and while the majority seemed to enjoy it, I was left wanting a little more from the performance itself.

But the fact the songs still sound great and most of the crowd was into the show warrant a favourable rating – it just wasn’t for me.

Jamie Walker