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Cabaret XXL
Birmingham Rep Door
***** BIRMINGHAM Rep scores another brilliant
home run with their third Cabaret XXL featuring the outrageously
brilliant talent of Jonny Woo. Looking like a cross
between Roy from Blade Runner and Alex from
Clockwork Orange
in sequins and red high heels, Jonny takes his submissive audience
through a heady recollection of his clubbing days in Birmingham from
1990 to 1994. There are moments of dark dramatic brilliance
segued between the camp high kicks and glittery costumes. Jonny began life some years back as a Drama
student in Birmingham. Now, based in London, he has developed a widely
acclaimed reputation for bringing alternative drag to more mainstream
audiences and has been a regular performer on the cabaret scene since
2000. The evening was not only about the main
performance but began in the bar area with a taste of Bourgeois and
Maurice, who themselves will be appearing with their own show at Cabaret
XXL on 9th June. The duo entertained everyone with some original
songs whilst the audience members were willingly subjected to glittery
face painting all courtesy of Sara’s Parlour. Within a very short
time the ice was broken and a party atmosphere broke out setting us all
up for what was a first class night. Jonny began with his recollections of his `party
drug’ nights on the club and the rave scene of the early nineties around
Birmingham. It was clear that several present on the night had been
there too, with people filling in the DJs names and characters of that
time when Jonny’s memory faltered a little. With his live pianist they
churned out some singalong versions of the dance hits of the period. One section though descended into deep
atmospheric theatre where he acted and performed against pre-recorded
soundtrack, a memory, real or imagined, of one dark night after taking a
more serious narcotic substance. It didn’t matter if the memories were
genuine or not as the overall effect was powerful enough to keep the
trip going. With several thumping soundtracks in between the
live piano and disco lighting, the club experience was complete. The
audience were at several times the performers as Jonny tottered amongst
us in a variety of daring costumes. It seems the word is finally out as the attending
audience to the Cabaret XXL nights have grown over the last three shows.
The acts to this event so far have been outstanding and the Birmingham
Rep continues to break new ground with this highly charged form of
alternative entertainment. Jeff Grant 31-03-16
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