I love a bit of late night showbiz. The debauchery, fun and general drunkenness lends itself to an atmosphere that you don’t get in any other kind of show, and this is no different.
The end was at it should be in a show like this, the audience begging for more and a huge round of applause having witnessed a night of good, slightly dirty, fun.
Performed by an amalgamation of different performers from different shows in the Fringe, you got the feeling that this was their way of having a bit of fun on stage. Though a bit ropey at places – as one would expect from a show that is performed once a week – we are introduced to a melting pot of different classic cabaret characters. From the witty and slightly endearing ventriloquist and his repressed doll right through to the down-right saucy and fabulously talented burlesque double act, this show has a terrific sense of fun attached to it.
From the moment we walked in, we were taken into a cramped but classic cabaret set up - impressive for a venue so small – with tables, chairs, candles and spectacular costumes. The show begins with a slight lament about the death of the music hall, with the need to have fun on their ‘last’ performance. This endeared me to the performers and made me forgive many moments in the first half where nerves and maybe a lack of rehearsal lead to mistakes. They didn’t lose me though and I enjoyed all of the songs, with special mentions reserved for a hilarious solo rendition of The Sex Pistols’ ‘God Save the Queen’.
Emerging confidently for the second half, you had a sense that nerves were forgotten, replaced by a ‘sod it’ attitude that instantly won over any of the last doubters in the audience. We were rewarded with a hilariously camp, and at times raunchy second half – exactly how late night shows should be. I say raunchy because at one point there were a lot of slightly upset girlfriends during a particularly impressive song and dance.
The end was at it should be in a show like this, the audience begging for more and a huge round of applause having witnessed a night of good, slightly dirty, fun.