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Little Death Club, Underbelly – Review

Black clad, sparkly and glamorous, Bernie Dieter is the suitably bawdy host to the Little Death Club, inspired by the Kabarett Club of the Weimar republic.  Following the lifting of censorship laws the Weimar club performances were dominated by two main themes, sex and politics.  This updated version is light on the politics, choosing instead to be a celebration of difference and urging everyone to be what they want to be.  You are treated to non-stop cabaret acts; comedy, singing, mime, dance, acrobatics, fire breathing and contortion, all accompanied by a first-rate live band. The blurb in the programme…

Summary

Rating

Excellent

Irreverent, hilarious and risqué hour of cabaret acts inspired by the Weimar Republic’s Kabarett Club. Contains nudity.

Black clad, sparkly and glamorous, Bernie Dieter is the suitably bawdy host to the Little Death Club, inspired by the Kabarett Club of the Weimar republic.  Following the lifting of censorship laws the Weimar club performances were dominated by two main themes, sex and politics.  This updated version is light on the politics, choosing instead to be a celebration of difference and urging everyone to be what they want to be.  You are treated to non-stop cabaret acts; comedy, singing, mime, dance, acrobatics, fire breathing and contortion, all accompanied by a first-rate live band.

The blurb in the programme states that no seat is safe, so be warned.  If she singles you out for special treatment Bernie Dieter will get to you, even if she has to clamber over other members of the audience, or make the rest of the row get up to allow her passage through.  The Spiegeltent Health and Safety advisor must be on tenterhooks for each performance.  Bernie has a substantial stage presence, grabbing the audiences attention from the start.  Her strong vocals complement the outrageous songs, with one quite melancholic one towards the end providing a good contrast to the rest of the show.  The other ‘singer’, comedian Myra Dubois, does a hilarious rendition of ‘I know Him So Well’ while Josh Glanc delivers a good act as the pissed-off mime artist. Hair hanging acrobat Fancy Chance and fire breather Kitty Bang Bang are both deserving of mention, but the stand out performer has to be contortionist Beau Sargent.  Coming on twice, he is graceful, athletic, hyper flexible, and the cause of many groans and gasps of disbelief from the audience.

Lighting and props are delivered smoothly and unobtrusively, glitzy costumes abound, and the excellent music provides an almost constant background to the action.  Although it is only an hour in length it seems it should have been longer, so much is packed in.  All together a very smooth, polished, funny and entertaining evening. 

Creators: Bernie Dieter and Tom Velvick     
Director: Tom Velvick
Musical Director:  Marty Hailey
Presented by:  Underbelly and Dead Man Label
Box Office: 0333 344 4167
Booking Link:  http://www.underbellyfestival.com/whats-on/little-death-club
Booking Until: 23 June 2019

About Irene Lloyd

Currently a desk zombie in the public sector, Irene has had no formal training or experience in anything theatrical. She does, however, seem to spend an awful lot of her spare time and spare cash going to the theatre. So, all views expressed will be from the perspective of the person on the Clapham omnibus - which is what most audiences are made up of after all.

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