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The London Cabaret Club lives up to its name - this is a fabulously entertaining cabaret experience!Summary
Rating
Excellent
A night of cabaret, themed around Chicago the musical, rammed full of dance, musical performances and acrobatics. There are fabulous costumes, great lighting and delicious food, with great service. A truly diamond class experience – that was the package that I was invited to experience, other packages are available.
Entering through the grand entrance, we’re ushered downstairs to The London Cabaret Club. We check in and are given boarding passes before being escorted into a very glitzy club room, full of art deco design. A glass of Prosecco and tasty canapés are offered as well as a taster of the talent that is to come, with the vocal stylings of Lorna Marshall and Katie Cook along with the tap-tactic feet of Alastair Crosswell. Next, we’re escorted into a larger room which is a feast for eyes, full of dining tables, great lighting and decor, and projections on the curtained wall spaces. The vocal performances continue while the guests are being seated. The serving staff look every bit the part and deliver fantastic service.
What followed is a cabaret show in three acts with three courses accompanying it. We’re entertained by songs from Chicago, along with others from Frank Sinatra, The Blues Brothers and Police. Some of the performances are sung live to a backing track, by the very talented Paul McDowell, Sofia Klimovsky along with Marshall and Cook. Other songs are mimed to the backing track, but the glitz and glamour and the great choreography make these equally entertaining; including many recognisable Fosse inspired moves – performed by dancers Elliesha Wiltshire, Myles Newland, Tia-Loren Bourne, Georgia Chapman, Lowri Davies, Caitlin Hanlon, Lucy Collins, James Pullum, Cristian Cauteruccio, Steven Woods and Wellington Santos. This is no easy task as the dining audience are sat ‘in the round’, yet the clever staging means that we never feel left out of the action, which can be a risk when performing in this way. There is also another turn by the very talented tap dancer Crosswell, during Act Two.
In between the acts, the entertainment doesn’t stop, we are enthralled by the breathtaking feats of balance and strength from Britain’s Got Talent Finalists, Duo Odyssey (Maksym & Sophia Korbun); and enlightened by the aerial performance and laser-light dance of Tatiana Ozhiganova.
It’s a non-stop cabaret of talent that means there are times when I didn’t want to eat in case I missed anything, although the food and wine were of a fine dining standard and every mouthful added to the pleasure of the evening.
Finally, after rapturous applause, with empty plates and glasses, the after-show party begins, with a DJ and really great selection of tracks. Some of the audience stayed, as the cast join them, celebrating a very successful evening with much gyrating and cocktails – until 2am! I, on the other hand, feel every bit of my 51 years and head off to get the last train home. Nevertheless, a great night.
Creative Producer: Evelina Girling
Artistic Direction and Choreography by: Doni Fierro
Guest Choreography by: Gaz Davis, Vladimir Kozevnikov, Cristian Vale
Sound and Lighting by: Nathan Cummings and Luke Perera
Costumes by: Gia Parteni, Sandra Andrews, Wendy Oliver
Roxie Rocks Chicago plays at The London Cabaret Club Thursdays to Saturdays until 22 June 2024. Further information and bookings available here.
