Royal Variety Performance

Silver TC · #1 (**permalink**) 12-12-2006, 10:30 PM

Hi all,

Well i don't know how many of you have been watching it tonight but the Royal Variety Performance is about the best thing on 'normal tv' at this moment.

To my surprise however some of the dance routines have included some burlesque element or other. There were three 50's style singers all dressed in red with hair in curls and red lippy who did a few numbers. They were great and I'm sure I've seen them before. Later there was a solo artist playing guitar whose name I forget because behind him stood about twenty or so variety dancers dressed in the most amazing white victorian corsets, big white knickers, white stockings and heels, glimmering blue eye shadow, massive white curly victorian style wigs with little curls falling either side of their face ALL DOING A FAN DANCE !!

The fan dance was choreographed and a little fast to be as teasing as a real burlesque fan dance and I imagine that was due to time scale involved but Blimey - the fella with the guitar did well not to look behind him as I'm sure he'd have missed a note or forgotten his next verse !!

Silver x

James · #2 (**permalink**) 12-12-2006, 10:34 PM

The singers name was James Morrison (not to be confused with Jim Morrison from The Doors).

I thought his song was incredibly lacklustre - which is probably why he needed the 20 showgirls.

Silver TC · #3 (**permalink**) 12-12-2006, 10:39 PM

Thats probably why I couldn't remember the song or the singer !!

Nice one James - any idea who the three 50's style singers were in the red dresses?

Silver.

James · #4 (**permalink**) 12-12-2006, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver TC

Nice one James - any idea who the three 50's style singers were in the red dresses?

Was it a Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davies Jr transvestite tribute band?

I missed the last 30 mins of the show because our accountant FINALLY sent through our annual accounts and I've got to go through them with a fine toothcomb - which is why I'm spending time on the forums!

Silver TC · #5 (**permalink**) 12-12-2006, 11:21 PM

I don't blame you !! best of luck with that.

Usherette · #6 (**permalink**) 12-13-2006, 12:38 AM

The three girl singers were the Puppini Sisters. I've never seen them (I missed them when they played the last Club Noir - ironically, also because of accountancy...) but I've heard great things. I was a little disappointed - they didn't seem to have the spark that I expected (the facial expressions on the redhead and blonde just smacked of "yawn"). Plus the sound mix was a bit weird (but that was our TV).

I loved the fan dancers! I don't think the corsets were Victorian... (looked more like M&S Basques to me) but the intention was there. Plus the fact that there was about 500 of them (well, ok 20, but you get my drift...) - I dread to think what the budget must have been for all of three minutes of - yes I agree - a fairly unmemorable song. I don't know much about fans but I'm guessing they don't come cheap! Loved the bit at the end where they shed their feathers at his feet too....

Twas also nice to see Tim Curry and Meatloaf share the same stage... must be the first time since the Rocky Horror Show back in the day!

Deirdre
x

James · #7 (**permalink**) 12-13-2006, 01:19 AM

Did anyone see Jordan and Peter Andre coming on stage and singing 'A Whole New World'?!

Holy Cramola!

I don't think that Jordan has ever been described as 'flat', but in 30 seconds of singing, I counted 5 bad notes from the 'everybodys favourite page 3 girl'.

Both Jordan and Peter seemed to be having serious difficulty reading the autocue too!

Kittie · #8 (**permalink**) 12-13-2006, 02:04 AM

The fan dance choreography was typically Fosse in style - the sort of thing you'd see in Broadway or Las Vegas rather than in a Burlesque theatre.

If you liked the dance, you'll love 'All That Jazz' a musical, autobiographical film by Fosse about his life. You can pick it up in most DVD/music shops.

The Puppini sisters were less interesting or original than i imagined them to be. I had hoped they would have their own material. Although they had nice singing voices, I didn't think them outstanding or particularly strong - it may have been the cliched 50's rock n roll song choice however.

It's a shame you missed seeing them live Deirde, I have not had the pleasure myself either but they do come highly recommended and they were meant to appear at another Scottish event this year but in the end it didn't happen, for some very silly reasons.

littleredfairy · #9 (**permalink**) 12-13-2006, 07:12 AM

I met the Puppini Sisisters when I performed alongside them at Club Noir. Very lovely girls and they have great voices, but as several members of the audience said to me, once they'd heard one cover song and what they did with it, that was enough.

I didn't actually see that bit of the performance, I saw the tail end of Barry Manilow (what is going on with his face!?) and that was enough for me, after all Gordon Ramsay was on the othe channel.

Al_Palooka · #10 (**permalink**) 12-13-2006, 12:17 PM

Hi People,
Yay I watched the entire Variety performance and enjoyed the majority of it, scenes from musicals- spamalot, wicked and jump being me faves...oh and of coarse Ken Dodd was great as ever.
Puppini sisters left me cold and I toyed with changing channel - I didn't like the Andrew Sisters so this could be just a stigma that I have. John Barrowman singing "Feelin good" was amusing too.
The "Morrison" Burlesque dancers were nice unfortunately he got in the way the whole time singing his drivel.
Twas good to see Tim Curry and Meatloaf on the same bill, Meatloaf did sound a bit knackered by the end of his set though- would have been a good cue for Tim to finish him off with a chainsaw at that point!
My main critisism is what has happened the good old magician, Plate spinners and comedy acrobats
I could go on!
Alsy x