Last night I saw Kevin Cruise, the unnaturally-tanned, sequin-clad host and master of entertainment on the luxury (and thankfully fictitious!) cruise ship The Fishy Rose.
Within moments of bursting onto the stage, Kevin had transformed his audience into fellow travellers and comrades taking us on a fast-paced, hilarious voyage across the high-seas. From the important safety briefings of what to do when the ship starts to sink or is attacked by pirates, there was no doubt that NOTHING would be allowed to stop cruisers from having fun whatever surprises the journey might hold - and there were a few.
The next hour was filled with pure, escapist fun from exuberant Kevin himself and the brilliant audience who became stars themselves under Kevin’s minimal yet masterful direction. Who would have thought it possible to carve the Large Hadron Collider from a cucumber?
If you enjoyed the fun and silliness of The Generation Game with Bruce Forsyth, then you’ll love Kevin Cruise. A total professional, he sings, he dances and is effortlessly funny. And his warmth and infectious enthusiasm had everyone in the audience on their feet, singing, laughing and dancing in the aisles. What a tonic!
The musical medley of classic, well-known and well-loved dance, pop, hip-hop, anthems and ballads was not only an inspired choice and seamlessly delivered. From the opening ‘Celebration’, through to the evergreen ‘YMCA’ (so perfectly-suited to Kevin’s ‘Carry On’ style of camp), the swift transition between styles kept the pace fast and mood upbeat throughout. Scripted with all original material and with precision timing, the degree of audience interaction also added a degree of unpredictability and excitement but also show Kevin’s talent for improvisation and ad lib that means that every one of his shows will be unique and fresh.
His talent for comedy and good, clean entertainment will appeal to people of any age.
I may not be setting sail on a luxury cruise liner any time soon, but I’d cheerfully experience The Kevin Cruise Show time and again and recommend it to – well, just about anyone with a funny bone.
Within moments of bursting onto the stage, Kevin had transformed his audience into fellow travellers and comrades taking us on a fast-paced, hilarious voyage across the high-seas. From the important safety briefings of what to do when the ship starts to sink or is attacked by pirates, there was no doubt that NOTHING would be allowed to stop cruisers from having fun whatever surprises the journey might hold - and there were a few.
The next hour was filled with pure, escapist fun from exuberant Kevin himself and the brilliant audience who became stars themselves under Kevin’s minimal yet masterful direction. Who would have thought it possible to carve the Large Hadron Collider from a cucumber?
If you enjoyed the fun and silliness of The Generation Game with Bruce Forsyth, then you’ll love Kevin Cruise. A total professional, he sings, he dances and is effortlessly funny. And his warmth and infectious enthusiasm had everyone in the audience on their feet, singing, laughing and dancing in the aisles. What a tonic!
The musical medley of classic, well-known and well-loved dance, pop, hip-hop, anthems and ballads was not only an inspired choice and seamlessly delivered. From the opening ‘Celebration’, through to the evergreen ‘YMCA’ (so perfectly-suited to Kevin’s ‘Carry On’ style of camp), the swift transition between styles kept the pace fast and mood upbeat throughout. Scripted with all original material and with precision timing, the degree of audience interaction also added a degree of unpredictability and excitement but also show Kevin’s talent for improvisation and ad lib that means that every one of his shows will be unique and fresh.
His talent for comedy and good, clean entertainment will appeal to people of any age.
I may not be setting sail on a luxury cruise liner any time soon, but I’d cheerfully experience The Kevin Cruise Show time and again and recommend it to – well, just about anyone with a funny bone.
I’ve got to confess that when I saw Kevin Cruise on Britain’s Got Talent, I fell firmly into the Simon Cowell "Absolutely no comment" camp, rather than the Amanda Holden "I love him!" camp.
In person though, you can’t help falling a little bit in love with the glittery-suited Cruise. His enthusiasm is highly infectious, and his cruise-liner-themed cabaret show is the perfect antidote to this grey Scottish summer. We played bingo! And carved up fruit! There were sweets! By the end, even the most straight-faced of punters was on their feet, shaking away to some '70s classics.
Amid the serious theatre of the Fringe, this serves as a good reminder that there is a place for fun shows too. Cruise is more used to adult crowds, but he has toned down the act so that it’s entirely appropriate for a family audience. This was the most feel-good, laugh-out-loud hour I’ve spent at the Fringe so far. Simon Cowell is missing out.
In person though, you can’t help falling a little bit in love with the glittery-suited Cruise. His enthusiasm is highly infectious, and his cruise-liner-themed cabaret show is the perfect antidote to this grey Scottish summer. We played bingo! And carved up fruit! There were sweets! By the end, even the most straight-faced of punters was on their feet, shaking away to some '70s classics.
Amid the serious theatre of the Fringe, this serves as a good reminder that there is a place for fun shows too. Cruise is more used to adult crowds, but he has toned down the act so that it’s entirely appropriate for a family audience. This was the most feel-good, laugh-out-loud hour I’ve spent at the Fringe so far. Simon Cowell is missing out.
The hard work of the evening is done by Kevin Cruise playing Buttons. Cruise is a West Country Ships entertainer who featured in an early episode of Britain’s Got Talent. Cruise and a dedicated dance team provide much of the humour and energy that this production so desperately needs from its headline stars.
‘Kevin is one of the most complete entertainers ever to grace the Windsor Pantomime stage’
To my surprise, the star of the show was Kevin Cruise. His interaction with the audience and children was brilliant and he had all theatre-goers on their feet for the dance routines. It was brilliant.
Kevin Cruise is a revelation, blasting all my prejudices against TV talent shows out of the water. As Buttons he held the show together, never overdoing the campness and obviously thoroughly enjoying himself in the role. He's one of those old fashioned-style performers (and I mean that as a compliment) for whom pantomime could have been invented and his range of skills even stretched to dealing tactfully and amusingly with a particularly precocious youngster who was among those shepherded up on stage for the singalong sequence on the evening I attended.
Kevin Cruise stole the show. He owned the stage with his performance.
Kevin Cruise makes a lovable Buttons, although he is not on stage enough.
He works the crowd like a natural, and the audience really enjoy looking after
his mince pie, as well as being privy to his pièce de résistance: a Vegas style
cabaret entertainment at the Royal Ball, complete with ‘YMCA’ and spangles
galore.
He works the crowd like a natural, and the audience really enjoy looking after
his mince pie, as well as being privy to his pièce de résistance: a Vegas style
cabaret entertainment at the Royal Ball, complete with ‘YMCA’ and spangles
galore.
Although Lisa and Johnny are the ideal pairing for the lead roles and get to demonstrate what amazing singers they are, it’s the sheer talent, boundless energy and charisma of Kevin Cruise that stands out in this production. He knows how to work a crowd and instantly wins the audience over in his very first appearance on stage and carries them with him laughing, singing, applauding and whooping all the way to the finale.* A (panto) Star is born!*
But without doubt, the real star of the show was Kevin Cruise. The former Britain's Got Talent contestant had brilliant patter with kids in the audience and he got the whole crowd cheering and clapping. His affable performance style made him an ideal guide for the show and he looked as if he was having as much fun as the crowd. Simon Cowell certainly missed a trick there.
Kevin Cruise – a man born to be in panto - is riotous from the moment he bursts on stage, whipping up the mood so well that before you know it we're all up on our feet dancing Gangnam Style. His infectious humour is complemented well by Matthew Kelly
Kevin Cruise is outstanding as Simon Trott who has a wonderful rapport with the audience in this his third appearance at the Theatre Royal and the audience absolutely loved him.
When I first saw Kevin Cruise on Britain’s Got Talent I thought he was way too OTT and, well, too orange! But his performance in last year’s Windsor panto won me over and, once again, I can only marvel at his all-round showmanship. He’s certainly a hit with the audience.
Kevin Cruise has the pivotal role of Simon Trott and watching him revel in it all it's easy to see why he has been invited back for his third Windsor panto. His hilarious monologue giving directions through the environs of Windsor and Slough is tongue-twistingly clever and the disco spoof, complete with 'boy band' is worth the price of the admission ticket alone.
Kevin Cruise has a place in my heart forever as he has great comic timing and humour that spanned the generations of the audience.
For me the highlight of this Panto was Kevin Cruise's showstopping ‘Round the World’ dance, which had all the audience up on its feet Irish dancing. Kevin Cruise was apparently a huge hit on Britain’s Got Talent and it’s easy to see why.
Kevin Cruise (aka Martin Cabble) has become a stalwart of Windsor pantos over the last few years, returning each time by popular request and never failing to give anything but his all. This year he's again in his element as Wishee Washee, endearing himself to the audience with a sense of humour and limitless energy so vital to panto.
Kevin Cruise With orange tan, blond wig and dazzling white teeth, he looks pretty cheesy, but this man really knows how to work an audience, and as Wishee Washee, a wannabee inventor and explorer, we all loved his enthusiasm and energy. His charisma and talent for entertaining makes him a sure fired hit.
Now in his fourth Windsor pantomime, this year he has taken on the role of creative consultant - which is, perhaps, why this production is so special. Steven Blakeley, who plays a marvellous Widow Twankey and also writes and directs the pantos, is brilliant, but this year’s production really went up a few notches.
Now in his fourth Windsor pantomime, this year he has taken on the role of creative consultant - which is, perhaps, why this production is so special. Steven Blakeley, who plays a marvellous Widow Twankey and also writes and directs the pantos, is brilliant, but this year’s production really went up a few notches.
Returning for his fourth Windsor pantomime is the excellent Kevin Cruise playing Wishee Washee. He has an excellent rapport with the audience and is a true asset, cheered by the audience with every appearance.
Kevin Cruise led a whirlwind tour around the world with a variety of songs from “I would walk 500 miles” from Scotland, with the cast resplendent in kilts, to an Irish “Riverdance” number, a trip to Sweden to meet Abba and a Zorba the Greek plate smashing hoot. And the whole audience simply had to be up on their feet, participating it was tremendous fun and infectious.
Kevin Cruise led a whirlwind tour around the world with a variety of songs from “I would walk 500 miles” from Scotland, with the cast resplendent in kilts, to an Irish “Riverdance” number, a trip to Sweden to meet Abba and a Zorba the Greek plate smashing hoot. And the whole audience simply had to be up on their feet, participating it was tremendous fun and infectious.
Steven's 'partner in crime' again this year is the irrepressible and energetic all-rounder Kevin Cruise, a man who could have been born to perform in pantos. Returning to the Theatre Royal, he hurls himself, quite literally at times, into the role of Willy Do-It.
Willy Do-It, played by Kevin Cruise, who did a magnificent job of interacting with the audience.
Since Steven and Kevin came on board it is the comedy that really shines. With his orange tan, dazzling white smile and OTT camp humour I’m afraid I dismissed Kevin Cruise when he was on BGT, but now I can’t wait to see him perform. He really is a master craftsman of what he does. He can work an audience like nobody else. When he was throwing giant inflatable footballs into the audience the roar that came up would have beaten any crowd at Wembley. I defy anyone to resist his enthusiasm, charm and playfulness, and one of the highlights of this show is the way he is always bursting into song.
And as for Windsor's favourite, Kevin Cruise, well he had us in stitches. The 12 days of Christmas was mayhem and hysterical.
