Reviews

The Hurly Burly Show – Naughty But Nice

| London's West End |

13 July 2012

Whooping and cheering to persuade someone to take their clothes off isn’t usually how you’d spend a night out at the theatre – but is de rigeur for a burlesque show.

“The louder you are, the more likely the lovelies will give you the big reveal.”

So says the gorgeous-voiced, blonde and wry Coco Dubois (Joanna Woodward) who sets up the tongue-in-cheek tone, without which this glam cabaret-cum-dance video would seem a heck of a lot less appropriate.

Back in the West End for a second year, The Hurly Burly Show is at the forefront of burlesque’s current ‘reclaim the frivolity and fun of fabulous curves in sequin-tasselled tits’ moment.

Though Miss Polly Rae, the well-known burlesque artist who founded the show, is billed as the star, she is often left as the cherry on the icing by director William Baker. The Hurly Burly Girls (like the Kit Kat Girls with far more charisma) such as Head Girly (Rachel Muldoon) and Jenny Talia (Jennifer White) often outshone her on sex appeal, pizzazz and wit.

Though some routines seem suspiciously like glorified Kylie karaoke – the director, musical director (Steve Anderson) and choreographer (Ashley Warren) have worked with the Aussie songstress and she came to the show’s first night – so it’s easily forgiven. If you can swallow that pesky feminist prudery, you’ll probably have a ball. After all, everyone loves a diamond-encrusted dildo, right?

– By Vicky Ellis