Suburbaret
Songs of Suburbia
The Bedford Pub, Balham, U.K., September 6, 2015
Review by Fiona Coffey for Cabaret Scenes
Visitors to London with more than a passing interest in London cabaret will understand that its reach extends far beyond the most well-known venues and frequently reviewed acts appearing in places such as The Crazy Coqs, Café de Paris and London Hippodrome. But perhaps it takes an astoundingly good evening of entertainment in the most unpromising venue to fully appreciate what else the capital can offer.
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Suburbaret was the reward for those willing, on this occasion, to venture a few stops further down on the Northern Line, swap their champagne glass for pint of warm beer, and smile cheerfully through the discovery of the odd blocked toilet or two in the rather dishevelled surroundings of the Bedford Pub. This may not obviously appeal to the kind of audience that inspires this particular cabaret.
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However, there is a subset of the British suburban middle class who delight in the occasional opportunity to “rough it” and boast of their achievement in discovering the equivalent of a three-course meal for £5 in a down-at-heel café that none of their friends would dare to enter. An evening like this offers a similar form of pleasure.
Suburbaret is the brainchild of Gareth Edward (pictured) and is a billed as “cabaret in celebration of all things surburban.” It is a traveling show – there are plans for different venues in 2016, which Edward is billing as “a world tour of Zone 3.
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” This particular offering, Songs of Surburbia, featured no fewer than eight acts, in a three-set show, most performers offering two or three songs each, linked more or less to the theme of suburban life. The scenery was a living room with sofa and ironing board. Host Edward was resplendent in pop socks, suspenders attached to boxer shorts and a jacket decorated with oyster cards, feathers and mirrors. A scientist by background whose gift for experimentation clearly influences his approach to cabaret, Edward invited the audience members to place their keys in a bowl to win items from the ironically branded Waitrose “essentials” range, including cotton flower ironing water and borlotti beans.
Edward hosted with natural charm and authority, and produced a show that offered a delightfully diverse array of talent. There were many great moments, but highlights included Katie McHardy’s sultry vocals on a hilarious reworking of “Nothing Compares to U,” a response to the closure of Woolworth’s, the touching charm of posh boy Lord Hicks, Celia Delaney’s reflections as a respectable woman buying stage wear from a sex shop, and all three of Luke Courtier’s utterly surreal comic songs, delivered with dazzling conviction and aplomb. All of this, plus engaging performances from Teri West, Emily Davis, Clare Benjamin, and an extended set from Polly Morris, added up to a very full menu, for a bargain ticket price of £8.
Edward’s light touch, genial hosting, and careful pacing of acts over a show that lasted nearly three hours kept the audience present throughout.
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The whole felt more like an ensemble piece than a talent showcase, and better for it. The Suburbaret theme is clever and engaging and provides a great vehicle for emerging artists. This monthly cabaret is definitely worth sampling for those willing to venture off the beaten track.
Editor’s note:
Suburbaret shows are advertised on www.suburbaret.co.uk and on Twitter @suburbaret.