Fabulous Creatures by Quentin Beroud & Emily Louizou.Studio 2 - The Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, London E8 to 15 June, 2024.

3✩✩✩ Review: William Russell.

“A cabaret to die for.”

The women in the Greek myths have had a hard time of it mostly at the hands of men, who also had, to be fair, quite a hard time of it when they came up against the women, real or fabled. This not quite a musical finds three of them – Siren, a kind of bird with a vicious beak, and Scylla and Charybdis – the rock and the whirlpool in the straits of Messina who claimed many sailor victims – reduced to appearing in cabaret to which Clytemnestra duly comes while Scylla is taking a break, not surprisingly since both are played by the same actor. Parts of it are very funny, but it goes on far too long and hammers home its sisterhood case relentlessly. Early on when they use hand held mikes a lot of what they are saying is none too clear which does not help. Since they all have first rate voices when they use them without assistance something could be improved during the run. The trio play for women who killed, but were punished, ostracised and vilified for reasons that were quite absurd or short sighted according to Louizou who also directs the piece. It is one way of looking at it and one hugely relished by the press night audience which was packed with persons who clearly share that opinion. The cabaret trio seemed powerful enough in themselves to take on all comers and floor them flat with the greatest of ease so it was hard to feel they had been ill done by. On the plus side the costumes are splendid, all credit to designer Ismini Papaioannou, who has also come up with a beautiful sequined curtain backcloth behind which props and personages lurk. The problem is this is theatre for the believer, not theatre that challenges any beliefs other than those the believers do not believe in. But for the right audience it is probably a terrific night out. The trio of actors seize their chances with relish as well as displaying considerable athletic skill – Charybdis does some very alarming things with her legs. Hannah Van Der Westhuysen, who plays her, is a mistress of ceremonies to make anyone quail, while Jazz Jenkins bounces about singing splendidly as Siren, a bird with marvellous white feathered boots for feet, and Kate Newman’s double act as Scylla and Clytemnestra is so good it is hard to believe they are the same person. It is, I suppose, a cabaret to die for.

Cast

Hannah Van Den Westguysen – Charybdis.

Jazz Jenkins – Siren.

Kate Newman – Scilla/Clytemnestra.

Creatives

Director – Emily Louizou.

Movement & Choreography –Idli Filippakopoulu.

Music & Sound Design – Irene Skylakaki.

Costume & Set Design – Ismini Papaioannou.

Lighting Design – David Doyle.