With the closure of Pizza on the Park recently, it’s nice to see some new venues for cabaret emerging across London – two within a week of each other.  First was The Pheasantry, a new venue in Chelsea with some teething problems.  Now, Wilton’s, smack on the other side of town in East London, has decided to devote part of its season to Live at Wilton’s, evenings of cabaret.

I went to Wilton’s with great skepticism as to how it would work for cabaret.  I’ve been to theater there many times over the years, and always found it to be one of the most acoustically unfriendly spaces in London.  To my delight, happily proving me wrong, there were absolutely no acoustic issues.  This glorious old Victorian music hall shines as a venue for cabaret.

Live at Wilton’s kicked off with a show by a variety of performers – Siân Phillips, Jessie Buckley, David McAlmont, Gwyneth Herbert, Sophie-Louise Dann and surprise guest Marc Almond.  It was a great evening, showing how varied cabaret can be.

It opened with Siân Phillips, who, for the first time ever, disappointed me. I found her versions of “Makin’ Whoopee” and “Ne me quitte pas” lacking in emotion.  However, she redeemed herself with deliciously moving rendition of Brel’s “La chanson des vieux amants” and a hilarious version of Coward’s “A Bar on the Piccola Marina.”

Next was Jessie Buckley whose voice hit the stratosphere, as always, on all her numbers, but Billy Strayhorn’s “Daydream” was simply amazing.  David McAlmont was equally stellar.  His voice is intoxicating – and my God, what a range.  His “Lullaby of Birdland” was one of the highlights of the entire evening – his falsetto soaring, despite a cold.

Gwyneth Herbert followed and having never seen her before, I can’t wait to see her in a solo show.  As a singer-songwriter, she’s funny and quirky and totally unique, playing a variety of unusual instruments, singing and relating funny stories.  Her highlight was “Not the Kind of Girl.”  Sophie-Louise Dann was also good, but brought a more musical comedy take to the stage.  Her version of “The Boy from…” sung with a British Northern accent was truly hilarious.

Marc Almond, one of the patrons, was the guest. I’m happy to see he’s getting back to work after some difficult times.  He’s not really my cup of tea, but the audience loved him.

I very much look forward to seeing what Live at Wilton’s has up its sleeve.  It may be a bit off the beaten track, but it definitely has a place in London’s growing cabaret scene.

Harold Sanditen
Cabaret Scenes
July 1, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org