Palace Theatre, Manchester. Runs until Saturday. ONE thing is for sure, you'll 'feel good' after a night with cult figures Jake and Elwood Blues.

Nearly 20 years since they were first unleashed in feature film format, the Blues Brothers have shaken off a weak box office and poor critical reception to become a phenomenon - and a godsend for fancy dress enthusiasts for whom the suspenders and stilettos of the Rocky Horror Picture Show are just a step too far.

Top class musicians, a line-up of great voices, and of course, a show which boasts, from start to finish, classic soul and blues standards, and you've got a show that can't go wrong. Okay, there's no storyline, but with a cult show this massive you don't need one. And the jokes and visual gags, when they come, are enough to keep this show rolling.

One of the highlights of the first half was a rendition of Rolf Harris's cheesy hit, Two Little Boys - done Blues Brothers' style.

The first half was good, but the second was much better. The audience, perhaps losing its inhibitions with a drink at the interval, were on the floor from the start.

It was an audience participation version of Flip Flop Fly that started things rolling and from then on the audience was on its feet singing, clapping and dancing in the aisles.

Comparative novices, Matthew Stokes as Elwood and Mattie Howitt as Jake, were excellent as the Blues Brothers.

Well studied performances meant that they were hard to tell from the real thing. And their voices were powerful enough to grace the string of familiar hits they had to cover from Jailhouse Rock to Everybody Needs Somebody.

And they were backed up superbly by Julian Cannonier, Eleanor Leah and Rohan Reckord who covered a number of classics including Respect, Minnie The Moocher and Stand By Your Man.

The cast deserved the three ovations it received at the end of the show. Although, as the audience had been on its feet for the previous 20 minutes, it was difficult to tell if they were 'authentic' standing ovations.

But let's not quibble. Superb musicians, spine tingling voices and a show that boasts some unforgettable tunes, how can you fail not to 'feel good', if a little bit sweaty, by the end of it. JENNIFER BRADBURY

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