Review

NOT THE ROYAL VARIETY SHOW
Theatre Royal - Monday 4th May

Yet another sell-out, this show went down very well with a lively, appreciative audience.

The Beacon Players are Dave Lynn and Masie Trollettes. They compered the show to raise funds for the Sussex Beacon, a local HIV/AIDS centre. Their repartee was sharp, crude and endearingly bitchy.
Local landlords from the Brighton gay scene donned their wigs and frocks to give us a rendition of "Copa-cabana". Singers from West End musicals and cabaret joined Dietrich look-a-like "Lily Marlene" and Dorian - landlady from the Oriental pub - for a rousing version of The "Birds of a Feather" theme tune.
Some of the male crooners were a bit cheesy and clean-cut for my liking but the lovelies in the crowd lapped it up.
George Kelly was there, taking time out from his current musical production "Paddington". He dedicated a touching tribute from "Les Miserables" to all the staff and nurses at Beacon who, he added, "Know what it is like to lose a friend".
Highlights of the show included the hilarious double act of rotund "Dockyard Doris" and the Charles Hawtrey of drag Phil Star posing as "two Shoreham girls from the Salvation Army"... the nun joke went down a storm.
Masie Trolette gave an unbalanced interpretation of "the Swan" ballet accompanied by a cello so out of tune only Les Dawson's piano could have rivalled it.
The whole show was Music Hall orientated and more geared towards a slightly older queer generation that love their bitchy drag . The put downs were as old as the drag queens themselves!

Andy Meekings


NOT THE ROYAL VARIETY SHOW Theatre Royal - Monday 4th May
	Yet another sell-out, this show went down very well with a lively, appreciative audience.
	The Beacon Players are Dave Lynn and Masie Trollettes. They compered the show to raise funds for the Sussex Beacon, a local HIV/AIDS centre. Their repartee was sharp, crude and endearingly bitchy. Local landlords from the Brighton gay scene donned their wigs and frocks to give us a rendition of "Copa-cabana". Singers from West End musicals and cabaret joined Dietrich look-a-like "Lily Marlene" and Dorian - landlady from the Oriental pub - for a rousing version of The "Birds of a Feather" theme tune. Some of the male crooners were a bit cheesy and clean-cut for my liking but the lovelies in the crowd lapped it up. George Kelly was there, taking time out from his current musical production "Paddington". He dedicated a touching tribute from "Les Miserables" to all the staff and nurses at Beacon who, he added, "Know what it is like to lose a friend". Highlights of the show included the hilarious double act of rotund "Dockyard Doris" and the Charles Hawtrey of drag Phil Star posing as "two Shoreham girls from the Salvation Army"... the nun joke went down a storm. Masie Trolette gave an unbalanced interpretation of "the Swan" ballet accompanied by a cello so out of tune only Les Dawson's piano could have rivalled it. The whole show was Music Hall orientated and more geared towards a slightly older queer generation that love their bitchy drag . The put downs were as old as the drag queens themselves!
	Andy Meekings