Mayhem in Midtown
Mayhem in Midtown
Scarfes Bar/Rosewood London, London, U.K., October 4, 2015
Reviewed by Fiona Coffey for Cabaret Scenes
The prospect of an evening of immersive cabaret provokes a number of thoughts. Will I be pounced upon by a hyperactive actor while I’m trying to have a quiet drink at the bar? Will I be required as an extra to realize a performer’s vision of transgressive cabaret through some edgy form of physical contact? There are times and places where this kind of entertainment constitutes the perfect escape from a burdensome routine. But on a Sunday evening, when there are only a few precious hours of relaxation left, and the shadow of the 6:49 AM commuter train starts to fall, escape, if it is to be contemplated at all, must be of a wholly different kind.
And this is the genius of the immersive cabaret that takes place in the glamorous surroundings of Scarfes Bar on a Sunday evening each month. Directed and hosted by Dusty Limits, with a sparkling ensemble of highly talented performers and musicians, this is an exquisite cabaret experience that perfectly suits, and deeply enriches, the space, the time of day, and what one might assume to be the prevailing audience mood.
Scarfes Bar is a cozy, L-shaped drawing room in rich warm colors, with a flickering fireplace and comfy sofas, oozing with laid-back, aristocratic charm. The walls are adorned with caricatures by cartoonist and illustrator Gerald Scarfe. These are regularly updated; all the newer royals are represented, alongside The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. It is a paean to Britishness that avoids being a contrived stage set designed mainly for the benefit of overseas visitors. Indeed, there is no stage, and therefore the cabaret’s conceit, that audience and performers are all there for a glamorous house party, is convincing. But what clinches the deal is the early realization that there is no requirement to be or do anything to make this house party happen. One simply has to be a guest: relax, order a nice drink and enjoy watching the party unfold.
And this is very swellegant party indeed. Dusty Limits channels his best matinee idol looks as he meets and greets each guest, his “wife” Lili La Scala is a picture of grace and beauty in her elegant ball gown and wig, with a soprano voice to match. The Dapper Dudes musicians led by Michael Roulston simply reek of class in their black tuxedos. The program of entertainment is pitched to comfort and delight the house guests, rather than challenge or offend them. La Scala’s opening song choices evoke her past loves—“Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” and “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square”—sung beautifully in pure, classical style. “Waiter” Florian Brooks charms as he juggles champagne bottle and tray; dancer Vicky Butterfly entrances with her pure white feathers and electrifying routine; and roving magician Laura London melts the most weary and skeptical hearts with her beaming smile and logic-defying card tricks. Only the glimpse of tattoos beneath the ball gowns, hints of a lavender marriage between the hosts, a hilarious tableau in which Limits sings “Mad About the Boy” as Felipe Reyes, the bare-chested “stable boy” displays his muscular wares in a series of impressive handstands, offer the merest suggestion that all at Downton Abbey is not what it seems. But, of course, it is precisely this hint of naughtiness that transforms the evening into a joyful and, yes, immersive experience that gladdens the heart and lifts the spirit. As the evening draws to a close and host Limits sees that his work is done, the party glides forward effortlessly. It is left in the hands of jazz singer Lana Shelley, a gloriously natural and engaging performer, Roulston and the Dapper Dudes to offer a few more upbeat numbers in the manner of an impromptu sing-along. The remaining guests savor a few more precious moments, some are tempted to have a dance or two, before they brace themselves for the cold night air and the demands of the week ahead.
Cabaret at Scarfes is destined to become one of those quintessential London institutions that that has all the finesse of Tea at the Ritz, with none of its contrivance or predictability. This cabaret is for discerning insiders as well as visitors, those who seek a special treat as well as those who expect luxury as a matter of routine. Its appeal rests on the happy coincidence of a gorgeous space and an imaginative format and, under Dusty Limits’ inspired direction, a group of performers who understand perfectly how to realize the potential of these two.
Category: Cabaret Reviews, London, London Cabaret Reviews, Regional
