The new Emerald Theatre is a well-appointed venue that is a welcome addition to the London cabaret scene. Unfortunately, its first show, Diamonds and Dust, is a rather lacklustre offering despite some quite spectacular costuming. The main drawback of this show is the script, which simply isn't very interesting. Faye Tozer portrays, and narrates the story of, Miss Kitty LeRoy who is a gold-digging diva in the Wild West. She is a much-married card shark, and her journey is told through a series of poker hands. The humour that is the hallmark of most drag shows is notably absent here, and Tozer's attempts to solicit applause and laughter fall completely flat. Among the lip-syncing of various pop songs and lots of laboured hoofing, the first act of this cabaret show has a brief acrobatic performance which is followed up in the second act by an aerial strap display by Lady Lydia and Zoë Marshall which is the showstopper of this whole experience. The main focus of the cabaret, however, is its burlesque, and there is plenty of flashing and feathers. The intended high points of this aspect of the evening's entertainment are the routines of Dita Von Teese, but these examples of the excidiast's art, like the rest of the show, take themselves much too seriously, and the titillation factor is zero. The purpose of this striptease can seem more about fulfilling the performer's fantasy, rather than entertaining the audience. Diamonds and Dust misses the mark by a country mile, but the Emerald Theatre could be a new gem in the crown of London's nightlife.
Rated: ★★
Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Chris Davis
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