Something Else (CORRECTED)

CORRECTION (PUBLISHED 10 JUNE 1994) APPENDED TO THIS ARTICLE

I'm getting worried about Patrick Moore. Maybe I missed something, but I thought people that big didn't need public attention. A few book-signings and chat-show appearances now and then should surely suffice to provide the people with a star and the man himself with enough cash to purchase optical hardware. Maybe The Sky at Night doesn't pay as well as it used to. Whatever the reason, going round England with a show called Space Extravaganza smacks rather sadly of the London Planetarium on wheels.

Obviously, if one insists on telling anecdotes about the cosmos, a slide projector will come in handy. But a 12-piece orchestra? It seems that Dr Moore is using the tour as a vehicle for the space-related tunes he has composed for xylophone and strings over the years. Performed works will include the Woodland Suite which 'depicts possible space creatures from another world' plus Holst favourites and the theme from Star Trek. 'It's just a few simple tunes - a bit of fun,' says Dr Moore modestly. Paul Driscoll at the 1600-seater Cliffs Pavilion believes the 'gigs' will sell. 'He doesn't have a cult following in Westcliff, but people will come out of curiosity.' But he does have a cult following. People, like myself, too awestruck to cope with seeing him in the flesh. But then, 20 years ago, commentators were probably predicting that his Children's TV appearances would stop him being taken seriously. But, like the end of the world, that just hasn't happened, has it? Dominic Cavendish

Wyvern Theatre, Swindon tonight; The Venue, Borehamwood 11 Jun; Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-On-Sea 12 Jun; touring to October

CORRECTION

In yesterday's 'Something Else', we implied that Patrick Moore receives payment for Space Extravaganza; in fact, all proceeds go to charity

(Photograph omitted)