Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide To The Orchestra

Introduction

The sudden influx of comedy DVDs come Christmas often give me an excuse to have a mini-rant at the start of these reviews, but I have to admit that there is a certain delight that comes with the announcement of a Bill Bailey DVD. I've long been a fan of Bill Bailey's whimsical observations, and his inventive stage shows elevate him beyond the usual stand-up comic armed only with an attitude and microphone. Bill Bailey shows are grand spectaculars, visual and aural symphonies, combining music, hi-tech video and of course comedy. Actually, that's one of the things that make Bill Bailey stand out for me, music. A trained and versatile musician himself, he incorporates music into his act, indeed makes it an integral part of it, and you know when you go to a Bill Bailey gig, you're getting part comedy act, and part concert. I have to admit that I was a little disappointed with last year's Tinselworm DVD, which appeared more concert than comedy, filmed at a venue in Wembley that in my opinion was just too large for DVD. So this year, he's at the Albert Hall.


I needn't have been concerned though, as this is a departure from the usual comedy gig. Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra is just what it says, Bill Bailey, the BBC Concert Orchestra as conducted by Oscar™ winning composer Anne Dudley, and an evening of music, education, entertainment, and yes, comedy as well. But this time the music comes first. Don't worry if you're expecting some classic Bill Bailey comedy as well, as some familiar songs and routines do make an appearance, albeit given the full orchestral treatment, and delivered in 5.1 surround.

The Disc

One very clear, sharp and pleasant anamorphic transfer, with the option of DD 2.0 and 5.1 sound. I suggest the surround to get the full orchestral effect. Subtitles are provided if you require.


There are animated menus on this disc, funny enough, but not as inventive, or as esoteric as those on the Tinselworm DVD. There is one 17-minute extra, Albert, Anne and Bill, which takes us behind the scenes at the Albert Hall, and Bill describes the thinking behind the show, and what he hopes to accomplish.

Conclusion

This is brilliant! I remember documentaries and children's films when I was a young-un that served as introductions to the orchestra, the various sections, the instruments, and it was always a joy to see it all came together to create something wonderful. My particular memory is of Bugs Bunny's Carnival of the Animals, and Bill provides a counter to that with his Cavalcade of the Unloved in this performance. Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra has the same edutainment heart, but adds lashings and lashings of comedy, which makes it something special indeed.


You don't get entirely away from the old stand up, not when you have a ripe target like banks to aim at, but the show focuses primarily on music, the comedy comes from the music, and verbal quippery unrelated to that is kept at a minimum. Fortunately, there is a lot of verbal quippery that is related, so in that respect, it's very much like what you would expect from a Bill Bailey performance. The structure and narrative of the show is constructed around the orchestra, introducing the woodwind, strings, percussion and brass, as well as some of the more notable instruments. But so much of Bill's routines have been built with music, that it's inevitable that you'll recognise some of the routines here, although there is plenty that is fresh and new as well.


You may have heard 'Hats off to the zebras', 'Dr Qui', and 'Insect Nation' before, but you will never have heard them this way, with full orchestral accompaniment. It all seems fresh and a new experience this way, and I haven't laughed so much at his Cockney Music routine as I did in this incarnation. As mentioned, you may not have experienced the Cavalcade of the Unloved before, those animals that are just considered too unworthy to join the Carnival, and I was tickled by the secret life of the bassoon. There is a lot of entertainment here, but there is also a fair bit of education as well, and as an introduction to the orchestra, and the wonders that a group of like-minded musicians can accomplish, this DVD is revelatory. The only downside is that this is probably the only Universal DVD where you will hear that logo music twice.


Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra will make everyone happy this Christmas. Unless of course it's absent from your stocking, in which case you'll be grumpy.