The Silly Season

Sometimes the most exciting live theatre emerges from a place of uncertainty, a sense of suspense, even a feeling of possible danger. Tina Del Twist generates all of these attributes through her stage persona, but not always to the benefit of her show.

The Letter String Quartet contributes excellent musical accompaniment and vocal backing, while the star sings strongly but too often lets the comic aspects wander around in a daze, particularly during an extended search through the audience for some alcohol to replenish her excessively oversized receptacle. Unfortunately, drunkenness - and the occasional incoherence that goes along with it - is these days, perhaps, no longer the gold mine of comedy it was once regarded as.

It cannot be denied that the question of whether the performance is ‘real’, to any extent, does hook one’s interest. Part of the problem is that Tina, at times, slips over the line that separates an amusing, intriguing spectacle from an unfunny, frustrating one. Between songs, some of her on-stage utterances remain incomplete fragments, in a manner that leads to audience exasperation.

At least as far as the music is concerned, she pretty much kicks into gear every time on cue and delivers an impressive rendition - excepting one occasion when our amusement is presumably supposed to stem from the fact that she doesn’t actually get around to forming any lyrics; it’s a wasted interlude in every sense of the word.

Ultimately, there are enough novel song choices here (including Nirvana), along with noteworthy arrangements (a musical saw!) and accomplished performances, to make a reasonably worthwhile cabaret experience – but Tina may wish to consider ‘reining in’ her booze-hound characterisation next time.

Anthony Vawser

Photographer: Stano Murin

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