Celia Imrie performed Laughing Matters at the Crazy Coqs. Picture: Catherine Ashmore
Celia Imrie performed Laughing Matters at the Crazy Coqs, London.
Celia Imrie is a much-loved, very talented actress and comedienne whose work I greatly admire, so I looked forward with huge anticipation to seeing her in a new role – cabaret artist. Sadly, expectations are not fully realised.
Cabaret, in my book, is an intimate thing where an artist interacts with the audience. What Imrie offers is more of a non-stop revue with no linking patter. Intimacy is sacrificed in a production that is overblown, and the routines with two supporting male dancers often seem out of place in such a small venue. Also, her voice is not strong enough for the ‘straight’ numbers.
These negatives apart, there is much that is entertaining, and, as one would expect, Imrie really comes into her own when delivering the comic songs and monologues.
There is a touch of nostalgia for those of a certain age when she performs two comic gems from the pen of that fine revue writer, Alan Melville – ‘Common Talk’, in which a snobbish woman recounts the nocturnal activities on Wimbledon Common, and ‘Which Witch?’, that has an ageing diva auditioning for a part in the Scottish play and questioning which of the weird sisters she is to play. The golden age of revue is further evoked in a Hermione Gingold number, ‘Madame La Palma, the Lady Snake Charmer’ and Noel Coward’s ‘There Are Bad Times Just Around the Corner’. Both pieces are delivered with a deft comic touch.
More up-to-date material includes ‘On the Game’, where a middle-class woman tries her hand at the oldest profession, totally ignorant of the meaning of the sexual code words put to her. Sex pops up again in ‘Smut’, as a campaigner against double entendres on TV tries to persuade the BBC to feature hobbies to take the Nation’s mind of sex. What follows is a catalogue of hobby-related double entendres innocently delivered.
In the finale amends are made for the lack of rapport when the audience are given sailor hats and join in singing ‘All Over the Place’, the words appearing panto-style on a song sheet. The audience relished this fun way to end the show.
Musical support came from pianist Nick Finlow and Mike Potter on drums.
Barrie Jerram
www.brasseriezedel.com/crazy-coqs
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