Such is the national treasure status accorded the late great Victoria Wood it’s easy to forget quite how barbed and satirical she was. It’s a great credit to Paulus The Cabaret Geek (with piano accompaniment from the esteemed Michael Roulston) for delivering a hefty reminder that the ‘gentle genius’ smuggled smut and ferreted filth by the barrow load past light entertainment audiences on a regular basis. Concealed behind the cheeky grin and homely asides was a rapier-like wit and a perception regarding peculiarly British sensibilities, but above all, it was FUN. In capitals.
Paulus set about the canon with relish, employing his trademark flamboyance and exuberance, interspersing the songs with anecdotes illustrating how his own life was affected and influenced, revisiting many of the bon mots she dropped in interviews with the media. So fast and furious came the laughs in a lot of what Victoria Wood is remembered for that Paulus devoted some of the show to make the point it wasn’t all comedy. His rendition of ‘Love Song’ was as near to a show-stopper as was possible given the riches of the Wood song catalogue.
Some of the quips and catch-phrases eluded the non-Victoria Ultras in the theatre but it probably didn’t matter. Paulus’s attire stated ‘cabaret’, blue drape jacket and yellow patents for the first half, burgundy and trainers for the second. Not forgetting the yellow anorak and beret ensemble. It was a lovely touch Michael re-appearing for the second half reading a copy of Woman’s Weekly. He went one better on a few occasions, harmonies accurately complementing Paulus’s vocals.
There was an admission that several songs might not please modern sensitivities, but the implication that a Victoria voice would be welcome right now was evident. With a heart as big as Lancashire, she did more than make a few folks happy, this show a timely jolt that there can still be a focus in ‘entertainment’ that works on multi-generational levels.
Reviewer: Roger Jacobs
Reviewed: 23rd April 2025
North West End UK Rating: