Adge Cutler’s life was tragically cut short in a car crash in May 1975 just as his group The Wurzels were being booked out across the West Country and were on the verge of international fame.

This musical seeks to honour his legacy and tells the story of ‘The Somerset Bard’ who celebrated West Country traditions and language.

The narrative starts from Adge’s early days working in a power station through to  roadying for jazz man Acker Bilk and finally to his own time in the spotlight, writing and performing his unique blend of humorous and idiosyncratic songs.  And as you would expect, there are lots of references to cider and all things unashamedly West Country – like cider. Also as expected there are also many favourite Wurzel songs, all very finely played by members of ‘The Twerzles’.

The show has a large cast, made up mainly of Am Dram regulars who begin proceedings with a raucous warm up amongst the audience, so be warned if you have a nervous disposition!

However, the show is principally about Adge Cutler himself and the particular brand of saucy, clever humour allied to a warmth which continues to endear him to fans right across the world.  On this evidence, there’s no doubt that there is no finer actor to play the incomparable Adge than Andy Ford. He brings his own West Country identity and empathy to connect with the audience and the spirit of Adge. Songs are belted out with great gusto and Andy Ford’s comic timing, bravado and exquisite stagecraft sweep the entire show along.  The neckerchief, stick, corduroys and daft hat complete the transformation and the story rattles along with tales of recording in the same Abbey Road studio as The Beatles and to Top 40 success.

The story, written by Neil Maggs with input from Adge’s manager, John Miles, gets all the details down, but the drama is lost a little along the way by the overly linear narrative. It would have been interesting to have developed the romance between Adge and Yvonne, tenderly played by Di Jacobson.

The awful car crash and the aftermath are sensitively portrayed and we learn about the period when the Wurzels decided to continue performing and gain the big chart success which eluded Adge in his lifetime. The Twerzles take up the narrative with the band’s appearance on Top of the Pops and renditions of some later songs, including the never to be forgotten ‘I’ve got a brand new combine harvester’.  However, when Adge in the form of Andy Ford leaves the stage much of the professionalism also leaves it, although the show benefits from a ‘beyond the grave’ reappearance for a final encore.

Great support is provided, notably from the young Conner Vickery and backing singers Michaela Sydney Crumpton and Francesca Carly who also provides some memorable choreography.

The Adge Cutler story deserves to be told and the warmth of the man is captured by Andy Ford in this sing along foot stomper of a show.    ★★★☆☆    Bryan Mason   4^th September 2017