Stage: Trying to put on a show

Kiki & Herb Are Trying
with Justin Vivian Bond, Kenny Mellman
Soho Theatre Walthamstow • 3-5.Jul.25 ★★★★

New York legends Justin Vivian Bond and Kenny Mellman bring their alter-egos back to the London stage for the first time since 2007, taking the glorious new stage at Soho Theatre Walthamstow. Although after all these years we begin to wonder if Kiki and Herb will make it to the end of the show. These characters have been honed to perfection, so the way this plays out is hilarious. They may be a pastiche of cabaret double-act, but they're also gifted musicians, creating funny and compelling moments as they recount outrageously overwrought tales from their past and perform songs and medleys that range from darkly emotive to belting standards.

Kiki has clearly had a few drinks before taking the stage, and continues to refill her glass, and also Herb's, throughout the show, fuelling their impassioned performances while at the same time blurring everything around the edges. "We'll try and put on a show," Kiki says confidently, ever the trooper. She also slurs her way through ill-remembered lyrics and becomes sidetracked when she spots either a cute man or an ex in the audience. And Herb gets more expressive in his adoration for Kiki. So there isn't a dull moment as they keep the audience in the palm of their hands, largely because it's clear that pretty much anything might happen.

Musical numbers traverse a wide range of styles and eras, as tunes to bleed into each other with hugely expressive emotions as the dusty-voiced Kiki is accompanied by Herb on the piano. And he chimes in for animated vocal duets. Medleys include pop hit shout-outs from Prince's When Doves Cry to Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club. Seasons of Love from Rent drifts into Taylor Swift's Anti-Hero. Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart morphs into New Order's Temptation. Their brassy rendition of Sex Bomb includes a wild dance break. And there are full-bodied performances of songs like Cherish, The Windmills of My Mind and A Lover Spurned, climaxing with an absolutely blistering Total Eclipse of the Heart.

The show is peppered with random comedy riffs that are impeccably improvised. Among Kiki's rambling memories are stories about her children and grandchild, plus a recollection of the 1950s fascism that was fuelled by Roy Cohn, whose acolyte is now bringing it back. There's also a jaw-dropping Sylvia Plath joke. Through all of this, it's wonderfully clear that they're just glad to be on stage after all these decades. "We're still alive," Kiki proclaims, as if she's more than a little surprised. Yes, Kiki and Herb have always been past their prime, and they are still utterly fabulous.

For more, KIKI & HERB >

photos by Eric McNatt & Richard Termine • 3.Jul.25