Theatregoer condemns Bognor show as 'worst ever'

John Lee said he was interested in being contacted by fellow members of the audience at The Life Story of Gene Pitney show at the Alexandra Theatre.

He condemned the show as being the worst he had seen.

He labelled it as completely unprofessional with a man, Ian Perrin, and a tape deck miming to Gene Pitney classics such as The Girl Belongs To Yesterday and 24 Hours From Tulsa in between apologising for his music equipment.

Mr Lee also claimed most of the small audience on the night of February 16 felt the same.

Yet their attempts to get any refund from the theatre for their tickets priced at 15 and 14 for concessions have been rejected.

"I would be surprised if there was more than 50 people in total in the theatre," said Mr Lee.

"I understand the theatre received more than 20 letters of complaint from people requesting their money back, including myself.

"The audience was mostly made up couples. So it would seem that everybody has written in requesting their money back."

He alleged the theatre operator was in breach of contract with those who went along because the show they attended was not the same as the advertisements.

The show was billed as 'guaranteed to leave you with a song in your heart and a smile on your face' and 'he must be seen to be believed'.

Mr Lee asked anyone who felt the same to contact him at his Goody-2-Shoes shop at 16 Station Road, Bognor, to decide what action to take next.

Adam Cunard, the general manager of the Alexandra Theatre and the Regis Centre, said: "The theatre was hired by Mr Perrin to put on a Gene Pitney tribute show. It was not one of our events.

"I can't give Mr Lee his money back simply because it doesn't belong to us. I am sorry if Mr Lee didn't enjoy his evening but there is very little I can do about the situation."

Mr Perrin would only speak to the Observer if we travelled to his home in Littlehampton to see him. He hung up when we declined.