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13 November 2014

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You are in: Suffolk > Entertainment > Music > Reviews > Review: The Osmonds

Jimmy Osmond and Mark Murphy

Jimmy Osmond and Mark Murphy

Review: The Osmonds

By Mark Murphy, March 2006

We were all a little bit older, heavier and greyer but that didn't stop hundreds of us reliving our teenage years as The Osmonds tour rolled into Suffolk. There was no Donny or Marie, but that didn't deter nearly 2000 fans packing into the venue.

It was with some trepidation that I approached the Regent Theatre through the rain sodden Ipswich streets. Would I be the only bloke? I don't remember too many of my school chums having Donny Osmond posters on their bedroom walls! I needn't have worried as I entered the foyer as I spied a few other men standing at the bar. They looked as relieved to see me as I was to see them. Mind you we were outnumbered by about 200 to 1!

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As soon as the band took to the stage the audience, both male and female, were shouting and screaming their heads off. It was as if the last thirty-odd years had been wiped away. Mind you Little Jimmy, Merrill, Jay and Wayne also looked a bit older, but they instantly had the audience on their feet.

The Crisp sisters with Wayne Osmond

Wayne Osmond meets two lucky fans

One thing that hadn't changed was the Osmonds' smiles. It was as wide as the Regent stage and those teeth as bright as the spotlights! The hits came thick and fast - Crazy Horses, Let Me in, The Proud One and many others equally familiar.

There was a massive reception for not-so-little Jimmy Osmond's version of Long Haired Lover From Liverpool and there's no doubting the brothers know their stuff. Thoroughly professional from start to finish they gave the crowd exactly what they wanted - pure nostalgia. Jimmy summed it up nicely when he said "Who'd enjoying being a teenager again"? And the whole crowd (me included) shouted back "I am!"

The only down-side was the poor sound. In the circle in particular you struggled at times to get the full Osmonds experience. Whether that was down to poor equipment or bad acoustics I don't know but it's not the first time I've heard that grumble.

last updated: 17/11/2008 at 15:14
created: 08/03/2006

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DEBRA EDWARDS
WELL TO BE HONEST I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A OSMOND CONCERT IN MY LIFE BUT I DO WANTA SAY I RESPECT THE OSMONDS AS I RESPECT ANYONE ELSE AND I WANTA SAY THANKS GUYS FOR HANGING INTHERE WITH THE MUSIC I APPRECIATE IT ALOT. ALWAYS DEBRA EDWARDS.

cathy mallon
seen your show last year febuary, truly brilliant, if it was the show, that suffolk had they had a good time, be sure about that.

Linda Sharman
What a great review. Sums up the atmosphere of the tour nicely. I wasn't at the Ipswich concert but went to three others on the tour and the sound was fine each time. Perhaps it was the venue.

Eunice
what a great interview a relaxed time with jimmy and the winners can you send me a photo of the front row is poss, at the ipswich regeant i was on the left hand side front row, my camera failed me. what a fantastic interview.

Julie Waldram - Portsmouth
Thankyou Mark Murphy for one of the nicest reviews so far that I have read regarding the Osmonds UK tour.I took my 13yr old daughter to see them at Portsmouth, the first time for me, even though we had both been to see Merrill 3 times when he'd been on his solo tours. We had a brilliant time, my daughter was in total awe of them and has now become a true Osmond fan, proving yet again that they still have the WOW factor. They must be the only group that have been around for over 30yrs that are still capable of delivering such professionalism even though three of the brothers are ill with colds, particulary Merrill, who has had a doctor out to him atleast 3 times during the tour.

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