Three go wild in Blackpool

The curtain rose to reveal three well turned-out ladies and a grand piano. Surely the cue for a night of cultured entertainment – the show is titled Charm Offensive, after all? Prepare to have those illusions shattered… Think a mashup of the WI and Catherine Tate’s Nan and you’ll have some idea of what to expect.

It’s 31 years since Dillie Keane formed Fascinating Aida and since then the trio (with a variety of personnel changes) has performed in five continents, had six West End runs, recorded eight albums, received three Olivier award nominations and published two books. Phew!

The current line up is Dillie, with Adele Anderson (who joined her in 1984) and relative newbie Liza Pulman. They are a formidable trio who showcased their singing smarts both as a threesome and in solo songs.

And what songs! If you’re thinking Scarlet Ribbons or We’ll Meet Again then you’d be sadly mistaken. How about Dogging? Yes, you read that right! The audience was clapping that one from the opening bars – and in hysterics until the final notes were struck. The lyrics are probably not to be repeated on a family website, but you’ll find it (and the equally risque and bleepable Cheap Flights and The Ofsted Song, both show highlights) on the trio’s YouTube page.

Nothing is sacred to Fascinating Aida, and it’s to their credit that they are so up to date with their targets. The Bulgarian Song Cycle included a little ditty about a certain used car salesman called Chris Moyles, and what at first sounded like a traditional sea shanty was revealed as a very funny song about the recent catastrophic flooding suffered by parts of Britain.

Interspersed among the razor-sharp humour were the touchingly beautiful songs Look Mummy No Hands and Old Home. I’d already been wiping away tears of laughter, now I had to find another tissue.

The show ended with Your Home Town, where the girls name-checked Blackpool, with honourable mentions for Waterloo Road and the Tower (and dishonorable mentions for other aspects of the town). Early on, they had told the audience that The Grand was one of their favourite theatres, and as Fascinating Aida were cheered offstage, it was plain that the feeling was mutual. A fabulous finale to Showzam! 2014.