“Archer is going to rip your face a new ear hole.” The voice of the MC calls out cautiously.

With that there’s a nervous end to the applause. A curtain opens on a man with a ukulele; he looks the audience up and down, introduces himself and starts singing.

…..

The act ends and the audience with tears in their eyes clap again.

“Actually what I really meant was that Archer’s going to melt your heart and steal it away, that’s what I get for going to a state school.”

There’s a hearty laugh.

“Now who’s up for some more Vaudeville?”

This sums up An Awful Lot Of Vaudeville - seemingly harsh, but once you get into it a really nice (and wonky) production. And it’s the best cabaret performance I’ve ever seen. Well it is the only cabaret show that I’ve ever seen… but yet it was enough to have me lusting for more.

The show consisted of a variety of acts from the circus antics of Aerial Menx, the magic of  Anthony Demasi, the soulful blues of Archer, the burlesque of Lola the Vamp (or if you see the show in October Gypsy Wood), to the main attraction of the Miss World Exotica 2011 performance of Mark Winmill. That’s not to leave out the wonderful MC Shivannah who strung the performances together with a charm that grows with each act. Each of the members of the ensemble are incredibly talented and could easily have a show to themselves, yet here they combine to create a showcase of talent teaser, a snippet of everything.

In all the acts were entrancing, the thrills high, and the burlesque (or should I say boylesque) saucy enough to leave yourself questioning your sexuality. With that in mind some viewers may feel uncomfortable with the risk-aye portrayal of both the female and male form, but the show is definitely about more than just sex.

You could critic the informal presentation, and the occasional stage mishap (of which there were only three), but that would be ignoring the entire charm of this cabaret – fun. Every time a mistake did occur, the performers would ease back into their act, acknowledging the mishap humorously and continue on.

For first time viewers of the burlesque, vaudeville and cabaret, this is a gentle introduction into the so called “dead art,” which will leave you grinning. There isn’t anything that could offend; it’s just plain old fashioned tantalizing fun.