And More... Reviews
UGLY BUG BALL - Serpentine Community Garden
On a balmy sunny summer Sunday afternoon the Serpentine Community Garden welcomed new and existing friends to bask in their garden of delights. With children’s entertainer Hannah Banana in one shady corner, a face painter in another, and a fun discovery trail and quiz there was plenty for children of all ages to enjoy even before they discovered the home made cakes at this free to attend event. Then Sax & Slide jazz duo added to the laid back atmosphere with the sound of the saxophone drifting on the breeze over the abundant flowers and vegetables while tea flowed, children played, and grown ups chatted.
The Ugly Bug Ball was a pleasant sociable afternoon in the garden. The pollinators were busy buzzing round, maybe not in time to the music, but no one seemed to mind. The event represented the friendly open ethos of the Community Garden and provided a lovely oasis of calm amidst the frenzy of Buxton Fringe and a world that’s changing at pace.
Entirely run by volunteers the garden provides a refuge for many throughout the year through regular or occasional hands on sessions. The aim is 'to teach and learn about sustainable growing practices in the High Peak climate; share knowledge with our volunteers and visitors; introduce initiatives and practices that support long term food security; build and maintain an environment where all people are welcome, enjoy what they are doing and having social interaction with others.' Indeed their website says they grow plants and people, and this event reflected that well.
Jean Ball
PUMP ROOM CABARET - Drunk 'n' Whispers
Billed as a show where ‘anything can happen’, it certainly did at last night’s Pump Room Cabaret. It was the opening night of the Fringe, hot and steamy both outside as well as inside the elegant, grade 2-listed building.
Drunk n’ Whispers - aka Sir Dickie Benson and Scarlett Whispers - have run their riotous Midnight Mania Show for over a decade at the Edinburgh Fringe. Why not try something completely different they thought? Would a show designed for a midnight audience in Edinburgh work in a still light, and possibly still genteel, Buxton?
As the audience members poured sweatily into the venue they were greeted by Dean Martin singing Volare and offered a Ferrero Rocher by Sir Dickie, a larger than life character sporting a very dubious looking wig. Sir Dickie was all charm and chocolate, oozing over each audience member whilst building up the party atmosphere. Things could only go downhill from here.
We knew audience participation would be a feature of the show, we didn’t realise quite how much. Be warned. Definitely do not sit in the front row unless you are a completely uninhibited extrovert. Actually you’re not safe anywhere.
After Sir Dickie had warmed up the audience with some rather intimidating and shouty instructions ‘It’s the THEATRE, darlings!’ the first act, singer Kahli Morris, was introduced. For this reviewer the decibel level and general hamming up of the intro almost convinced me Kylie Minogue was about to appear. Billed as a vintage singer and performer, Kahli swung into her versions of some Marilyn Monroe classics, swinging her hips as she did so. Her tone was sultry and although she didn’t quite hit all the notes, she battled on gamely through some technical hiccoughs. Not a bad way to start the evening.
There were 4 acts before the much needed interval where a breath of fresh air could be grabbed outside, and 3 acts after. The acts were all pure variety, a mixture of song, magic, burlesque dancing, and oh yes, some stripping too. The magicians, Mason King and Simon Hughes were excellent entertainment and did (I warned you) involve the audience. It’s great to see sleight of hand and close up magic quite so close up. Simon Hughes was only a couple of feet in front of the audience but he fooled us every time. Mason King has his own show later on in the Fringe. I’d thoroughly recommend going to see him. The title of his show The Mind Spy was very cleverly revealed at the end of his slot. Brilliant work, Mason!
Tease on Taps, otherwise known as Charity and Ebony, appeared wearing Stetsons, waistcoats and various other bits of cowboy clobber which were all gradually shucked off during their carefully choreographed dance routine. Some in the audience really enjoyed this, others including the 81-year-old sitting next to me, clearly did not.
But hey ho, variety is the spice of life and this variety show definitely did not disappoint. Sir Dickie Benson was the glue holding the show together, keeping the audience (loudly) entertained in between acts. His best line during some fantasy about being on a red planet was ‘Ooh what’s that smell? Don’t worry, it’s Elon’s Musk escaping!’ The audience roared.
The other half of the duo, Scarlett Whispers performed once in each half. Firstly she taught audience members (again with the participation!) how to dance burlesque and awarded a prize of nipple tassels to the winner. Scarlett also closed the show with a hypnotic burlesque dance involving two very large ostrich feather fans which also did the job of elegantly hiding the parts gradually revealed by the slow and slinky, bit-by-bit removal of her costume. She is a very talented and mesmerising performer.
Sir Dickie Benson and Scarlett Whispers are the constant parts of this moving feast of a show whose line up changes with each performance. Even more variety!
There are two more shows on July 16th and 17th at the Pump Room. You have been warned.
Moira Kean
