After a successful, but unfortunately shortened, debut run last year, the team behind XXXmas Carol are back with another festive favourite in Cardiff Bay: The Lion, The Bitch And The Wardrobe. If Les Misérables taking over the Donald Gordon Theatre doesn’t tickle your festive fancy, Polly Amorous and company are back in the WMC Weston Studio with an irreverent take on another Christmas classic – Father Christmas himself even turns up in the original book.
That said, its devoutly Christian author C. S. Lewis might turn in his grave at his works being the basis of an 18+, queer, Christmas cabaret containing “adult content, nudity and strong language”. Fun to think about, at any rate: conversely, Lewis may have been happy to know this show doesn’t stray far from the story.
Cardiff drag icon Polly Amorous heads the cast again, alongside bellydancer Rahim El Habachi, burlesque artist FooFoo Labelle and circus aerialists Bunmi Odumosu and Eric McGill. They are joined by juggler Felix Sürbe, who is also the musical director. (Ever feel some people are a little too talented?) The Weston studio is turned into a late-night Narnia, its tables and walls adorned with well-endowed fawns and figures: confirmation this is not the Narnia about which your mother read to you at bedtime. The stage is right in the middle, with cabaret seating around it; audience members this evening are of all ages and proclivities.
Anyone who knows of Polly will be in familiar hands, as she starts The Lion, The Bitch And The Wardrobe with a Christmas medley, including Sound Of The Underground and Killing In The Name (hey, they were Christmas number ones). But who knew she was such a good actor, pretending she’d never seen a spanking paddle before! Although Polly is a star, and the poster girl, every performer that came on had me thinking “OK, this is the star of the show”.
Asher Jane’s gorgeous voice provided standout moments, likewise, Eric McGill’s aerial acrobatics gave us an answer to why a lamppost is in a forest. And FooFoo Labelle’s Satanic Santa as a political spin doctor, with the advice to “fuck yourselves warm” as a solution to the cost of living crisis, isn’t going to leave my mind anytime soon.
A glorious ensemble piece, like a Berlin cabaret via Splott: The Lion, The Bitch And The Wardrobe has something for everyone to enjoy, apart from Matt Hancock (probably). Half cabaret, half panto, half drag and fully queer! I sincerely hope they do a version of It’s A Wonderful Life next year…
The Lion, The Bitch And The Wardrobe, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Wed 14 Dec
On until Sat 31 Dec. Tickets: £15. Info: here
words CHRIS WILLIAMS
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