REVIEW: Burlesque'd at The Aeronaut

The are many talented singers and dancers in the West End musical choruses hoping to get the big break to go centre stage in the follow spot as the star of the show and Ashley Luke Lloyd has created, choreographed, directed and produced this new show at the 170 seat Aeronaut pub theatre to showcase some of them. The story follows Crystal Lake who leaves her job at Dick's diner in Mississippi to pursue a career in Hollywood but finds her self as a waitress on a commission only basis in a old night club, the Sunset lounge, opposite the Waldorf Hotel in sight of the Hollywood sign. Does she get the break she seeks and save the club? You will have to see the show to find out.

The show features an energetic sexy group of nine Showgirls, who look like they have come straight from Chicago and belt out a succession of well known tunes with lively choreography. There is not much Burlesque in the show neither as a show creating laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works nor in the sense of bawdy comedy striptease but it does put the show in showgirl. Chess (Emily Shuck) is the lead dancer who drinks too much Tequila and gives us "Diamonds are a girls best friend". Isabella is the club owners daughter ( Brooke Havana Bailey) and sings "Tainted Love". But it is Crystal (Charlotte Jeffery) who grabs the attention from the start with "Something got a hold on me" as she leaves her cafe job and leads a very well drilled finale with the girls.