Life Is A Cabaret, Old Chum

A Rose by any other name…

here were reserved signs all over The Whale tonight, but there was nothing of the sort going on up on the stage.

This was Risqué Business, a celebration of the early, slightly sleazy days of cabaret.

And so it was that singer Rose Lawless and pianist Julie Cruickshank delivered songs all about the dangers of falling for men with moustaches, and rebels called Lozer, Kitty LeRoux reminded us all of the wonders of the flesh, and just who it was that tempted Eve way back when, and The Hot Tolka Club just about brought the house down with their swingin’ gypsy jazz, whilst MC for the night, The Grim Squeaker, held it all together by letting it all hang out.

What was particularly satisfying about tonight was the fact that this three-headed monster hit was made up almost entirely of local talent. Which is what a local theatre is really all about.

The fact that the crazy onstage was just about out-matched by the crazy in the audience just made the night all the more delicious decadent and delovely. Especially when everyone joined together for the closing rendition of Lou Reed’s Walk On The Wild Side…

Now, go check out close to 100 shots from the night here, baby!