Kiss of the Red Menace

John Kander and Fred Ebb are the songwriting duo behind a string of Broadway and Hollywood smashes, including Cabaret, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Chicago and Funny Lady. This spritely tribute to the multiple Tony Award winners stars Kerry Hodgkin as cabaret star Melody La Rouge and takes a whistlestop tour of some of their greatest hits.

Hodgkin has a fine voice and is every inch the diva–resplendent in patent leather boots and lace bustiere. She struts and stamps the stage with confidence and an infectious smile–oozing the showbiz glitz of the songs and the sexiness of cabaret.

A four-piece band stay very much in the background, wisely leaving the spotlight to Madame La Rouge.

Between songs she explains some of the history behind the music, the composers and the famous names who were fated to become Kander and Ebb’s muses. The show would benefit from these narrative segues being expanded upon as they only scratch at the surface of the musical duo’s story. The audience are left wanting to hear more about such luminaries as Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisland and Chita Rivera, while the relationship between the songwriters themselves doesn’t get a look-in.

The songs are all big hitters – 'Willkommen', 'All That Jazz', 'Cabaret' and 'How Lucky Can You Get?' are all present and correct in the 14-song set. What it lacks is that extra bit of magical razzle dazzle – leaving a show which is nothing more– or less–than a well-sung set of much-loved standards by a charismatic performer.