The Ministry of Burlesque: Cabaret is back this month with an Easter themed variety show. They incorporate circus, comedy, cabaret and burlesque into a jam packed evening of hilarity and entertainment. The Ministry of Burlesque bring a cabaret show almost every month to the Komedia, each with a different line up so no two nights are the same.
In this particular show we were treated to some fantastic compèring by award winning Dusty Limits. The singer, comic, actor and all-round celebrated figure of the ‘new cabaret’ scene has won the London Cabaret Award for Best Host/Compere three times. His seductive charm, crude jokes and sultry tone made him the glue of the evening. He was completely relaxed with the audience and we quickly came to love him.
Lena Mae opened and closed the show with her versatile burlesque numbers. Her two striptease performances were entertaining but I would have like more dancing in the acts. Her opening number dressed as a bunny covered in balloons waiting to be popped one by one was a real crowd pleaser. I felt the novelty giant carrot and balloon popping carrot made her first performance much more memorable than her second which was more of a straight forward striptease.
Up next was Cirque Da Purr who are a Bristol-based acrobat and aerial duo. They have quickly built up quite a reputation across the world including performing at the world famous Boomtown festival. Both their performances were strong and well choreographed. Their movements created believable illusions of their bodies merging together. Long sequences on both floor and hoop on a stand were impressive and atmospheric.
Mark Antony is the drag king of the variety show. For me I felt he let the quality of the overall show down a little. He was occasionally entertaining but felt he brought very little to the evening. I found his lip syncing a little half hearted and minor costume changes underwhelming.
Closing the first half and wowing again in the second was Christian Lee, who you may recognise as a Britain’s Got Talent 2016 finalist. He is an award-winning comedy magician, and has been dubbed the ‘King of Comedy magic’ by Time Out. He was by far my favourite act of the evening with his perfect balance of shocking and genuinely baffling magic mixed with hilarious comedy. So, so brilliant.
With over 15 years’ experience leading the vanguard of the genre, The Ministry of Burlesque hand-pick and curate with both modern flair and old soul to deliver electrifying evenings of exceptional entertainment. If you want to be entertained look no further, this is a brilliant way to spend any evening.