Andrew is on sabbatical but Phil is soldiering on to help you decide between the Merlot and the Marlowe and generally putting London's West End theatre to rights
UNWRAPPED: May Contain Strallens & Musical Nuts came to us not just with Strallens and nuts but contained the Whingers’ patented “Strallometer” (see below) which we created to grade any show containing one of the ubiquitous Strallen clan. It was used with our full permission and cleverly animated using technology way beyond our technical wherewithal.
For this was a one-off Sunday evening cabaret produced by Strallen père, Sandy Strallen* to show off the not inconsiderable talents of 2 of his seed (Summer and Zizi), with the “Musical Nuts” coming in the form of the Casey sisters (Natalie and Anna-Jane). One might be tempted to call them “nut Caseys”. Read the rest of this entry »
Walking through Leicester Square last night en route to a post-show tincture the Whingers were discussing the square’s new look. Phil related a story about how he was criticising the square’s new metal railings to a friend, not realising he was talking to the person behind its redesign. Oops.
Phil then rambled on about the new(ish) look of Kensington High Street and how it has a very clean feel. “Your mother would like it” replied Andrew sagely.
Andrew is often telling Phil, “You sound like your mother” despite never having met her. Both Whingers spent the Mothering Sunday weekends with their respective mothers and Phil can confirm that he becomes more like her with each passing day. Andrew is probably making the transformation as well (hopefully into his own mother, not Phil’s), but has yet to admit it.
Anyway, in Fruit Fly, Leslie Jordan (Will and Grace‘s Beverley Leslie) asks if it is the fate of all gay men to turn into their mothers and by illustrating his show with some fabulous family photographs he makes a pretty good case. Read the rest of this entry »
To Andrew she will always be the “gorgeous, she’s one lady who knows how to take care of herself” half of Hart to Hart. To Phil – who is generationally more senior – she will always be April Dancer, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
But who knew The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. was a spoof? Phil certainly didn’t. He probably thought he was watching documentary at the time but one of the anecdotes Stefanie Powers shares in her cabaret Hart of My Heart, A Tribute to Lorenz Hart, in the Matcham Room of The Hippodrome Casino put Phil straight. Well, on that subejct at least.
Really very little we can to add to the unqualified rave we gave to the version of Fascinating Aïda‘s Cheap Flights which we caught in Edinburgh and is now boarding for a brief season at the Charing Cross Theatre.
We may not be able to add much but the satirical singing cabaret trio have. Current line-up Dillie Keane, Adèle Anderson and relative newbie Sarah-Louise Young have worked up an extended version of that show which now comes with extra tunes, an interval but no excess baggage. Read the rest of this entry »
A very late entry for this as the Whingers saw it on different nights.
We also have to declare something in our extensive (presumably surcharged) baggage: an interest.
Adèle Anderson has been saddled with an association with the Whingers for some time and has become quite adept at drawing raffles tickets at various West End Whingers’ parties. And unbeknownst to us at the time, we have also shared a stage with Sarah-Louise Young.
We can now add poor Dillie Keane to the mix as she too has also recently – and most patiently – been on the receiving end of our bar room ramblings. Compassion, nay, pity must therefore be extended to all three of these talented songstresses.
So you can take what we say with a pinch of salt if you please. Their show Fascinating Aïda: Cheap Flights needs no assistance from us anyway, as despite the huge choice of entertainments (and playing in one of the larger venues) here, “house full” signs appeared outside every night. Quite rightly too.
“Cheap Flights” has made them an internet sensation having gone “fungal” as they describe it. If you’ve seen that YouTube video and appreciated it, then you will love this show as it indeed the tip of a very large entertainment iceberg. It jostles against stiff competition from “Dogging”and their Bulgarian song cycle which, updated regularly, still reigns supreme. Too say much more would spoil the cabaret trio’s box of delights which just seems to go from strength to strength.
An extended version of the show is arriving in London this December. Look out for it at the prosaically monikered Charing Cross Theatre, a venue that is almost far enough off the beaten track enough to be a suitable venue for Cheap Flights to land. Does Bishop’s Stortford have a theatre?
Rating
In the unlikely event you’ve not heard Cheap Flights:
Ingredients:
1 large Nigerian 29 year old male trained in law
Make up
Several frocks
Red glittery lipstick
Lashings of Lycra
A penchant for Barbra Streisand numbers
A soupçon of audience participation*
Method:
Mix the ingredients together gently and simmer charmingly with a seasoning of good-natured, unapologetic, cheeky humour for one hour. Experiment with various toppings, decorations and accessories and sieve through Lycra for the most spectacular results.
Serving suggestion:
Place in a circus like tent, adding music and a justifiably appreciative audience.
The finished product may be slightly improved by turning the result out in a sound-proofed container so that the quieter, more introspective numbers are not drowned by the general cacophony of Fringe revellers outside. Although this is unnecessary for a magnificently emotional rendition of “Ol’ Man River”.
*Sadly not the Whingers on this occasion although each was most keen to see the other humiliated in Lycra.
Every cloud has a silver lining but the lining of the cloud of microscopic basalt ash particles emitted from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajoekull volcano was pure gold.
For thanks to being “stranded” in new York (with Virgin Atlantic picking up their accommodation and meal costs) the Whingers found themselves invited to dine at the very posh Café Carlyle and take in the entertainment provided by someone called Elaine Stritch. Read the rest of this entry »
“Is she that weather girl?” If the Whingers had a pound for every time they have been asked that over the last few weeks the would have three pounds by now.
Perhaps that weather girl might have warned them not to be so foolish as to book a late May matinee of anything.
But there was no weather girl to advise them and so it was that on the hottest Sunday afternoon of the year the Whingers found themselves in the sweltering, subterranean Pizza On The Park. Read the rest of this entry »
The Whingers are rarely offered owt fer nowt. But when it happens they are scrupulous about declaring their freebies.
Mind you, They have never had the luxury of having their swimming pools or moats freshened for nothing. Nor have they ever claimed for their ratcatchers or helipads. They guarantee that all maintenance of their drawbridges has come directly from their own pockets. They can’t even recall ever having owned (let alone sat on) a glittery loo seat although they may have occupied the occasional pouffe. But they would definitely sit in the stalls and chomp through their Maltesers at the taxpayers expense – given half a chance.
And we’re told we produce enough manure as it is without needing more of it for free.
Our dreams of “special guest” status were quickly punctured when we found ourselves placed at a table at the back. Andrew did some half-hearted moaning about not being able to see very well but it turned out to be this table or one behind a big plant. It turned out to be something of a blessing. Read the rest of this entry »
No, not that kind of Republican: say “McCain” and Phil thinks “oven chips”; say “Bush” and Phil thinks, well, not much really.
No, “republican” as in “not that struck on the monarchy”.
Now do not be dismayed at this rather late excursion into anarchy: it will all be over by tomorrow. Sharper-eyed denizens of Kentish Town may catch him fishing his collection of Princess Anne & Captain Mark Phillips wedding knick-knacks out of his dustbin in order to restore them to their pride of place on his mantelpiece. Read the rest of this entry »
We must declare an interest.
To Andrew she will always be the “gorgeous, she’s one lady who knows how to take care of herself” half of 
Really very little we can to add to the 
[Yes, yes. Still Edinburgh. Sorry. Nearly over.]
Edinburgh may have finished but the Whingers haven’t.
Every cloud has a silver lining but the lining of the cloud of microscopic basalt ash particles emitted from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajoekull volcano was pure gold.
At the age of 76 former ballerina Liliane Montevecchi can still lift one foot in the air and rest it on a grand piano. That’s class for you.
Phil was having one of his republican days.
A West End Whinger 