| Product: |
Derek Acorah Stage Show. |
| Date: |
24/02/06 (1431 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Someone may contact you from the beyond !
Disadvantages: If you want a good night out dont go . . . .
I am not a believer nor am I a disbeliever so when I was given a treat of going to the theatre I was surprised to find out we were going to see the Derek Acorah stage show. I had never been to a séance or to a spiritualist meeting and the only thing I knew about Derek Acorah was a programme on TV called 'Most Haunted!' where some people wander around in the dark scaring the pants off one another and saying things like "It's very cold, can you feel how cold it is?" Well, yes, it would be cold! You are walking round an empty building with no heating! Or "Did you hear that sound?" I would be very surprised if you didn't hear sounds at the dead of night in a deserted building. However, I was very intrigued so let the show commence
The Stage Setting.
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This particular show was at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, which is a beautiful old theatre with particularly good views of the stage no matter where you sit. We were sat around 20 rows from the front in centre aisle seats. The tabs (Curtains) were back to reveal the stage. On stage left was what looked like a very large display of flowers. This was, in fact, to hide a camera, which was put on the audience so that everyone could see the person Derek was being asked to make contact with. On stage right was a table with a jug of water and a glass. In the middle of the stage at the back was a huge screen to project the camera shots onto. Below this was a banner with script on it, it read…
To the believer no proof is necessary
To the unbeliever no proof is possible
Sam's True spirit words to Derek from the world of spirit
Derek's entrance and first encounter.
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Derek was introduced and the packed theatre went mad with clapping cheering and lots of shouts of "Hello Derek!" and "How are you doing mate?" He then spent a few minutes introducing himself and explaining what would happen whilst, all the time, walking around the stage. I felt that the head mike he was wearing could have been louder but perhaps that's just my hearing. In the midst of talking he turned and walked to the front of the stage pointed towards the back left and said 'Nelly! Has anyone got someone called Nelly in spirit world?' No one said anything but he continued to ask, pointing towards a certain area at the back. The camera was now scanning that part of the audience, who could see themselves on the screen, and I was dying for someone to jump up and shout 'Hello Mum!' but they didn't. Derek homed in on a certain lady, whom I have to say looked completely bemused, and said "Do you have anyone in spirit world called Nelly?" She answered, "Yes." I cannot help wondering why she had not said 'Yes' straight away. She was passed a microphone by one of the helpers who were dotted around the theatre. Derek then began to ask questions and it turned out that Nelly was this lady's Aunt. I don't know if it was the fact that she could not believe anyone would want to speak to her, the fact that she did not believe it or the simple fact that she was shy but she was not very forthcoming with her answers and Derek moved on.
The Second Encounter.
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At this point Derek turned to the side and said, "What was that Sam?" I found out that Sam is Derek's spirit guide and that throughout the show he would spend time wandering about speaking to thin air, or so it seemed to me, however, the audience loved it and it occurred to me that this only happened when there was a lull in the proceedings. Was this man really talking to someone from beyond or was he a very good showman? I still wasn't sure. At this point Derek asked did anyone know a Bob or Robert who would have been around 6' 1" in height and worked as a sheet metal worker because he could see him bending metal round something. The camera again homed in on a couple of ladies who said 'Yes they knew a Bob.' It was her granddad and he was a big man who worked in a foundry. Derek seemed pleased to have found them and started to ask questions like "Have you got a sister?" She replied 'No, but I have a sister-in-law. Derek nodded and said "She has children hasn't she?" The lady replied, "Yes…four." Derek asked if she would be having anymore to which he got a resounding 'No.' At this point he laughed and said Sam is telling me different he says there is a child in spirit form waiting to come to them and the next baby they have will be a little girl. There was not reaction to this. Derek then asked "Have you got a guinea pig?" She said 'No'. So he asked if she had a rabbit. Again she said 'No' but the lady then said, "We used to have a gerbil but it ran under the fridge and wouldn't come out and eventually died." Derek laughed and said "Yes, I know, because it's here and your granddad keeps moving it out of the way with his foot!"
The Third Encounter
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Derek asked did anyone know a Bill and May Kendal. He was looking up into the balcony and when no one answered he said laughingly "Don't make me come up there". The crowd went crazy, clapping and shouting "C'mon Derek". The camera moved to the back of the balcony and zoomed in on three ladies who had been moved from their seats to stand at the back. The blonde lady in the middle said, "Derek, I know Bill and May Kendal. They were a lovely couple. They were healers and we worked together because I am a medium!" Derek then turned and spoke to Sam saying, "Right Sam. Right". He then asked the lady if she knew anyone called 'Jackie'. She said, "Yes, my friend". Then Derek asked did she know a 'Dave' and she said her brother-in-law was called Dave. He asked her was he 'all right' and she said 'as far as she knew'. Derek was insistent that she phone him straight away because he felt that he was in difficulties, He then asked "Who is Linda?" The lady turned to her left and said, "My friend here is Linda, Derek". He then asked her, "Are you starting a business?" She said that she was, with the blonde lady. Now call me suspicious but it just seemed a little too set up. Out of all the people there a medium is contacted not with a 'John' or a 'Pete' but 'Bill and May Kendal'! If that was a guess it was a really good one. Who do you think was fibbing? Derek or the blonde lady?
The Forth Encounter
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After Derek took a break (The intermission) I felt the whole show took on a different feel. I cannot comment on how these shows usually go, because this is the first I have ever been to, but I felt very uncomfortable, Derek walked around the stage in quite a sombre mood and then said, "On our way to Manchester I was contacted by the spirit of a little girl around the age of 11 or 12 years of age who had passed away from a tumour or something in her head and this poor soul wanted to contact her parents. He then asked the audience does anyone know a Pat or a Tina. He looked up into the balcony and said, "I am drawn up there to the right-hand side". No one made any kind of sound. However, I did take this opportunity to look at the audience, who were now starting to shift in their seats, and many did look as uncomfortable as I felt. Eventually, after what seemed an age, Derek said, "Don't make me come up there!" The crowd cheered and clapped and shouted, "Come on up Derek". Once again my suspicious mind went into overdrive. I firmly believe this was a smoke screen, because the audience had started to become unsettled, but as soon as Derek started to make his way up onto the balcony the crowd rallied and started cheering, shouting 'Good old Derek'. He asked in a certain area and someone did say, "Yes" but it turned out that they were not the right person. So, he asked again and, would you believe it, the blonde lady medium stood up again and said she knew who it was because she had been giving a reading to the dead girls mother. I couldn't help thinking what a good place to advertise for free. Derek asked who Pat was and the blonde medium said Pat was the girl's aunt who had been with her when she passed away. Derek asked her to pass a message to the girl's parents that she was all right and that she would be sending her mother a sign and not to be frightened. He also made a point of telling everyone that he had never met the blonde lady before and he got her to confirm it. The next part was unpleasant. Derek said that this little girl was accompanied by a young drug addict. She was a girl around 19 years of age, who was waif thin, and had passed away via a drugs overdose. Did anyone know Rachel? Someone said they did and he asked if they could tell her family that she was all right. I don't know if it was the content or the fact that this show was no longer entertaining but the atmosphere in the audience had definitely altered.
The Ending
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I have to say that when Derek announced that he was nearing the end of his show I was relieved. Derek then said he would take a question and answer slot. He looked round and said does anyone want to say anything. The audience were still quiet from the last part involving the two girls so he asked again and someone at the back shouted "You are a w*****" Derek just smiled and held up his hands again. I could not help but wonder if this was a plant or a diversion because of course the audience rose to his defence and the mood lifted. I must add that no one was reprimanded or put out for the outburst although there were lots of Derek's people about so they must have seen who shouted. At this point Derek pointed to a lady not far from where we were sitting and said, "Do you know a George? A slightly overweight man who smiled a lot." She shook her head and said that her grandfather was like the man Derek had described but his name was David George. Derek said, "Yes that's him." and that he had a message for her niece to say that the flowers she keeps smelling are from him and not to be frightened of her gift because he knew she was physic. She said she would pass on the message and Derek moved away but I did notice that the young girl sitting next to the lady had broken down in tears. Derek then spent several minutes answering questions about guardian angels and birds and other bits and pieces. He then thanked everyone and said goodnight and bowed and moved to go off stage. Now I have been to lots of shows of all kinds and even the most mundane receive fairly enthusiastic applause however this was not 'encore type' applause. It was not a very good applause at all. People had started to get out of their seats and make there way out. No one stood in ovation. It was just a few of us politely clapping for all we were worth. Derek came back, took another bow and the applause had stopped before he left the stage.
My Opinion.
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I am reviewing the show and not Mr. Acorah's ability but I feel that the show is Mr. Acorah so I will have to put the two together. As I have already said, I have never been to a spiritualist meeting so I don't know how these go but I have been to lots of shows and I am a regular theatregoer. I think Mr. Acorah is a showman in every way. He knows how to play an audience and is not averse to using some tricks of the trade to get back on track. He is charming, quite good looking, very presentable and articulate. He is amusing and with the Liverpudlian accent, even in Manchester, had the audience warming to him. The actual show depends on whether or not you believe. If you do then I suppose the content is down to the spirits and who decides to come through but if you do not believe then it was not a good content.The bit about the two girls really upset me and left me feeling very sad for those in the audience who had perhaps lost a child. I felt the chats with people were overly long and a little hit and miss. The names were names in everyday use and who hasn't got a deceased relative that was slightly overweight and smiled a lot? The bit with the medium felt rehearsed. If it wasn't then the blonde medium got free advertising to about 300 people. Would I go again? A resounding 'No!' but I do not want to put anyone off. If you believe, go along, as you may just be contacted. If you don't then, don't waste your money, go and see a real show
Summary: If you are a believer then this is for you..If you are not then save your money.
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