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Interviews
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From Three to Seventy - He Just Can't Stop Dancing Lionel Blair talks to Sheila Connor Lionel Blair is a bit of an institution in England. He has been popping up in every genre of the theatrical world for as long as anyone can remember, and shows no sign of slowing down or of retiring. Mainly known as a dancer and choreographer, he has diversified into almost every other form of entertainment, and his career has never stopped progressing, taking in appearances in TV game shows as well as theatre, acting, directing, presenting and singing – even including a stint in the BBC soap Crossroads, given the improbable name of Valentine Starwood. His many television appearances include Give Us a Clue, Name That Tune, and Saturday Night Royal, and he has choreographed and appeared in innumerable TV shows, starring with artists such as Anthony Newley, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Liza Minnelli with a special command performance in a duet with his friend Sammy Davis jnr. – a very impressive CV!
He is currently hosting the touring show Simply Ballroom, a show he describes as, “A most wonderful show – one of the best shows I’ve ever been in. It’s lovely – you will enjoy it so much. The people leave the theatre with such a high ………and we get the whole audience up to do the salsa.”
At the moment he is taking a short break from the show, and I thought that maybe he needed a rest as he dances as well as hosting – not a bit of it! The only reason for the break is a period in the tour which includes many “one-nighters without a band, in town halls and things and I need an orchestra – so that’s what they’re doing at the moment, and I start again on 17th April in Woking”. Asked if he manages to do much dancing nowadays, he replies, “Quite a bit – I’m still an old hoofer!” How does he manage to keep so fit? “Wel,l dancing does that, but when I’m not working I do go to a gym to work out. I’m quite active – have been all my life, so that’s what keeps me going”
I believed his first professional appearance was at the age of ten as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Regents Park Open Air theatre, but even before that “I was a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz in pantomime – I’ve done a lot of pantomimes, over thirty, seven of them in Canada. I took pantomime to Canada.” My comment “I bet that surprised them” brought the response, ”It did – but what was wonderful was that the ex-pats that were there – the people who had emigrated there - were so thrilled to see pantomime again, and it was so successful the first year that we went seven years in a row. They were able to take their children to see pantomime.” Canadian born Blair is now known as the Pied Piper of Toronto, bringing children to the theatre – an interesting correlation with one of his recent roles as the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – and he has probably started a whole new culture across North America
With so many people to choose from – did he have a favourite co-star? “Well my favourite partner has to be my sister, Joyce, I talk about that in the show. I always say that I’ve danced with so many people – with Sammy Davis and Liza Minnelli and Chita Revera - it’s just been one of those wonderful careers.” Was there a particular highlight? “Well, being in the business to me is a highlight; I just love it so much. Working with Sammy Davis Junior was a big highlight………that was fantastic!”
As Blair had played in Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, based on characters in Hamlet, I wondered if he had attempted Shakespeare…… and yes, he'd done that too! “Yes, I played Touchstone in As You Like It – that was a long time ago. I didn’t enjoy it very much, I don’t know why….I think I’d enjoy it more now.”
Another string to his bow – he has recorded three very popular line dance videos and has recently completed an album of songs made famous by his idol, Fred Astaire.
He is also chairman or vice-president of Stage for Age, which is a branch of Help the Aged and took time when the show was in Brighton to surprise one lady recipient of Meals on Wheels. Her lunch was delivered personally by Blair, transported in a stretch limo. - something which must have impressed the neighbours.
Married for 39 years to his wife, Susan – quite an remarkable feat in show business – Blair has three children and one grandchild. At the moment, however, the family are very upset by the unexplained disappearance of their dog, Florence, a member of the family for ten years. She has been missing for eight weeks and they are still hoping that she will be found. But meanwhile, the show must go on!
After Woking "Simply Ballroom" tours to Sunderland, Cheltenham, Eastbourne, Croydon and Norwich ending in Southampton on 10th June.
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