For a night of pure glitzy glamour full of surprises Jonny Woo’s Un-Royal Variety show packed the Hackney Empire to its rafters, and what made the show a huge success was the diversity of the content, political statements and the fact that the crowd were clearly a very mixed bunch ranging in ages and entertainment tastes.
Highlights included the performance of The Kate Middleton Choir, whose members all came onto the stage pregnant and gave a rousing rendition of Ace of Base’s All That She Wants, a pure hoot with a wonderful dig at the fact that if the establishment wanted a baby making machine in Middleton to secure the line of Windsor she is certainly doing the job.
Another highlight was a stunning duo with Jonny Woo and Le Gateau Chocolat whose very poignant song called Uncomfortable caused a ripple of emotion that swept over the crowd that this cast of wonderful entertainers firmly had in the palms of their hands.
Celebrities in attendance – Panti Bliss, Graham Norton, Helen Lederer and Grace Dent – showed appreciation as the artists on stage delivered a memorable show that if you missed in 2017 make sure you book for 2018.
Woo and company, including Christeene and Myra DuBois, were stunning to watch and they proved that the delivery of satire and social comment via this medium and in such a venue fit for purpose was unrivalled and phenomenal. A true achievement by a set of seasoned artists that can’t be bettered.
****
Photos by Simon Phipps
Jonny Woo’s Un-Royal Variety was at the Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, London, E8 1EJ. hackneyempire.co.uk
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