Soir Noir – A nightclub confidential. Crazy Coqs, 20 Sherwood Street, London W1F. 16 April 2025, 4☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.
Photo Credit: Michael Lee Stever.
Soir Noir – A nightclub confidential. Crazy Coqs, 20 Sherwood Street, London W1F. 16 April 2025, 4☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.
“Consummate skill.”
The American cabaret performer David Rhodes brings a taste of the bygone New York cabaret scene to London – he has been at CrazyCoqs before but this is a brand new show – which consists of lots of Cole Porter and a dazzlingly different performance of Coward's Marvellous Party. Rhodes gets increasingly pissed as verse succeeds verse until one hardly make out the words and he can hardly pronounce them. It is hardly Gingold or Coward but still very funny. The songs are great but he might have told us a little more about who used to perform them in the 40s, 50s and 60s. No mention, for instance, of Mabel Mercer. But that said he holds the house beautifully, had a terrific accompanist in Simon Beck at the grand piano and mid show his partner Jake Oswell, a tall somewhat younger being in a black gown that left little to the imagination sporting a shock of short black hair and a rather splendid black moustache brought the house down with two numbers. Rhodes gave us You don't say you love me – Dusty, of course, - Miss Otis duly regretted and he got someone under his skin, worsjipped that old devil moon and chilled with Mack the Knife. He ended with What a Wonderful World as a tribute to Louis Armstrong which is fair enough as it is a song associated with Satchmo and has admirable sentiments but maybe noting where it was most recently sung would have been a good idea. A fairly venerable audience relished what they got and ever the consummate performer he delivered what they wanted. Some great songs well sung. He did not tap them away, but he certainly sang the troubles of today away. So if - or when - he returns do go to the cabaret.
Cast
David Rhodes.
Jake Oswell.
Creatives
Musical Director – Simon Beck.
