Tonight was a night at the theatre for enjoyment, not to write reviews, yet here I am clacking the keyboard at 11am!!!!
Fact is, I want to share news about the confection of a show I have just seen at the always lovely Plaza Theatre, Stockport.
Drag is being, pardon the pun, dragged through the hedge backwards by right wing politicians who find it, well, subversive I guess, but as has always been the case, subversion can be a power for good.
That is exactly the case with The Betty Legs Diamond show, currently touring. Betty was the legendary host of Funny Girls club in Blackpool and, cutting a long story short, she/he/they are now taking the show on the road.
With a talented cast of six dancers Ms Diamond has filled the stage with movement and comedy that remind us that theatre comes in many shapes, sizes and forms. This is entertainment, pure and simple with deluxe costumes and precise dance routines. OK, the music is pre-recorded, but at these prices, where are you going to find a decent band?
Following the formula set at Blackpool the show is a selection of mainly musical show excerpts ranging from “Flower Drum Song” to “Chicago”. Here though there is the need to fill the gaps that Betty does with anecdotes and stories about her showbiz career. They are as well timed as the musical numbers.
At its best this is pure entertainment. A night to forget the troubles of the world. It also serves to show how much we need the entertainment value a drag act can bring to a wide and accepting audience. Shame some of those killjoys will never experience the fun. https://bettylegsdiamond.co.uk/
Reviewer: Philip Edwards
Reviewed: 29th April 2023
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★