Review: BEAUTIFUL WORLD CABARET GALA WITH ROB BRYDON, Crazy Coqs
West End legend and passionate advocate for environmental justice, Janie Dee, brings her Beautiful World Cabaret back to the London stage, bringing together an eclectic line-up of guest performers in a celebration of the natural world and a reflection on our place in it.
Previously hosted at the Edinburgh Fringe, Dee’s cabaret now graces the glamorous stage of Crazy Coqs, the cabaret venue underneath Piccadilly’s Brasserie Zedel. The 1930’s Parisian splendour is a far-cry from the hippy-dippy, hemp-hewn aesthetic one might expect from a show themed around the natural world. Draped in a sensuously sequined gown, cabaret host and founder of Beautiful World Cabaret Janie Dee brings a unique romantic charm to environmentalism.
As a host, Dee is charming and generous in her earnest celebration of her guests. When headline guest Rob Brydon took to the stage for his turn, he proclaimed that his involvement came about through an inability to “say no to Janie” – and indeed, Janie’s infectious passion and enthusiasm for her project makes this all too easy to believe.
The eclecticism of the evening’s programme prevents this show from veering into alienating, preachy territory – incorporating comedy alongside profound messages about the health of the earth and the detrimental human impact upon the world. The general tone is casual, free and friendly, although the Crazy Coqs audience were a trifle staid in their reception of the show.
The rising stars of the line up – Alfie Friedman, Molly Hanson, Em Hoggett and Josephina Ortiz Lewis – bring their own personalities and hold their own against the more established likes of national treasure Wayne Sleep.
An eclectic and thoughtful programme – Beautiful World Cabaret inspires passion and action and love for the world around us. A dream of an evening.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Livvy Perrett
