Christmas Gaiety ⚝⚝⚝
Royal Albert Hall
There is no grander, more romantic concert venue in London than the Royal Albert Hall. Part Victorian Coliseum, part jewellery box, part meringue the biggest challenge for performers is that the building is often the star of the show. A Christmas Gaiety, conducted by Edwin Outwater with Mistress of Ceremonies Peaches Christ, fell a little short of the venue but still managed to generate the right kind of seasonal charm for a Drag Race-type audience and their chosen families.
As an ensemble variety show, there is only a narrow opportunity for performers to nail it. In the first half that was done by Le Gateau Chocolat, vacuuming up a standing ovation with a baritone version of Walking in the Air and a tribute to recently past Sinead O’Connor and her Nothing Compares 2 U. The phones were waving aloft for that touching moment segued by Le Gateau’s own thoughts on a recent hospital visit and its reminder to be grateful for every moment of life. Dressed in a fractured golden mirror ball outfit the twinkles, and the feels, were real. Baga Chipz preceded that with a capable and suitably big version of Shirley Bassey’s Goldfinger.
At the heart of the show is the music of the wonderful BBC Concert Orchestra. In that venue, with everyone’s favourite Christmas music, they were pretty unbeatable. Sweeping strings, with the addition of seasonal bells were lapped up by an audience who liked a little bit of sweet alongside the very salty humour.
Sandi Toksvig brought some celebrity power with a gay version of The Night Before Christmas. Easily the most relaxed performer on stage, she wryly observed she enjoyed this way more than watching cakes being baked. With Peaches Christ towering above her Toksvig remarked that Peaches ample bosom could easily take out a dyke’s eye. She did her thing with her usual understated charm but also added a poignant and personal testimony about the hate, and death threats, she and her family received when she came out thirty years ago.
A dirty version of the Twelve Gays of Christmas, replete with rimmers rimming, otters swimming, and five gold cock rings didn’t quite take off as hoped. The audience was a little too staid to get their mouths round it, though it was supposed to be a singalong. However, by the time Kerry Ellis had belted out a rousing All I Want for Christmas they were up on their feet, embracing December joy and misting up for the forthcoming mistletoe.
Queerguru Contributing Editor ANDREW HEBDEN is a MEDIA and cultural STUDIES graduate spending his career between London, Beijing, and NYC as an expert in media and social trends. As part of the expanding minimalist FIRE movement, he recently returned to the UK and lives in Soho. He devotes as much time as possible to the movies, theatre, and the gym. His favorite thing is to try something (anything) new every day”
PS You may also like to check out Queerguru’s interview with Peaches Cream & Edwin Outwater https://queerguru.com/peaches-christ-and-edwin-outwater-talk-about-their-anglo-american-queer-star-studded-cast-in-christmas-gaiety-which-opens-in-londons-royal-albert-hall/
Plus. https://queerguru.com/sister-roma-talks-with-queerguru-about-finally-making-her-london-debut/
Labels: 2023, Andrew Hebden, Christmas Gaiety, Edwin Outwater, Le Chocolat Gateau, Peaches Christ, reveiw, Royal Albert Hall, Sister Roma
