PERFORMANCE REVIEW: Secrets Birthday Party

Secrets Vaudevillian Birthday Party
Southwark Playhouse, 3rd October

Beneath the arches of London Bridge lies Southwark Playhouse Secrets, the cabaret-style side show from the innovative theatre. The dimly lit walls of grey brick, red decor and bare white bulbs give the hidden location a feel of shabby glamour. Combined with a late bar and a sense of happy-go-lucky, this is the perfect scenario for a variety of mystery acts comprised to celebrate the new season of the post-show and lunchtime entertainments.

Knowing that the whole venture was conceived with a more-or-less £0 budget - requiring the performers to give themselves for free - it was hard to know what to expect of this evening. And as it happened, it was a real mixed bag.

Nudity was the order of the night at Southwark, some of it prepared for, and some more of a surprise. A burlesque dancer flaunted through and amongst the audience, with huge purple feathers and little else. Although scantly clad, the voluptuous Khandie Khisses managed to remain poised and never seedy. Wes Zaharuk, however, became unexpectedly and unnecessarily undressed during his performance. One of his several questionable routines involves, incomprehensibly, attaching two plungers to his nipples and invading the faces of audience members. Like the rest of his act, this is a complete non sequitur, and leaves you wondering what exactly it is that he is claiming to be skilled at.

Further bizarreness ensued. The ring master of a flea circus looked very professional in his red outfit, but succeeded to entertain the audience with the spectacular amount of tricks that went wrong. Keeping a brave face at all times, he was at least endearing if not very practised. An androgynous musical saw player was also slightly bewildering; untuned notes accompanying the score of Atonement was entertaining in a curious kind of way.

The potential of a fantastic scenario was slightly dampened by a couple of underwhelming acts. The draw of the event was evident from the initial crowd that filled the stage and bar area. If a core of the successful and intriguing acts could be established, then the audience would no doubt dwindle much less than it did on this occasion.

Helena S. Rampley

For the full line-up of Secrets new season just click HERE