The Brighton Fringe festival has always been the home of all that is unique and original in live entertainment and with their latest production, Beauties and the Beats, the Lady Boys of Bangkok prove that they are still firmly fixed in both categories.
Although they return to the Fringe year after year, the Lady Boys show is always new, fresh, funny and exciting, which probably explains why the tickets are snapped up so quickly.
Following the traditional announcement that we are to be entertained by 16 male performers, the curtain opens to the thumping disco sound of Cher’s massive hit “Believe” and we see Sonya and the first group of absolutely stunning Lady Boys – all with figures (and superb red costumes) to die for!
Much celebrated in their own country, the Lady Boys are regarded as a “third gender” and it is very easy to see why. Although they were all born male it is almost impossible to believe, as they all have the looks of the very best of the Las Vegas showgirls.
The evening is a mix of new pop songs, classic party favourites and some of the very best showtunes including, brand new for 2015, a medley of songs from Cabaret and the complete Sound of Music – in three minutes!
As always with the Lady Boys it is the comedy and audience participation that makes the night and the new 2015 production has plenty of both. From Victoria Wood’s classic “I Can’t Do It” through to the absolutely superb “I’m not pregnant (I’m just fat)” the company find the very best of comedy cabaret and then deliver it as only they know how.
Act two sees a lot more of the upbeat disco numbers with Rhianna, Nikki Minaj, Ariana Grande and many more getting the audience up on their feet and dancing in the aisles. The loudest audience led singing of the evening has to be in the Jersey Boys and Supremes medley, although “Let It Go” from Frozen did get the parents in the room singing along to their children’s favourite song from the movie of the moment!
Just before we launch into the campest of finales, which features a medley of Village People hits, the show reaches it’s naughty highlight when the Lady Boys appear in leather and PVC, carrying whips and tied up with chains to perform an amazingly rauchy number, accompanied by two of their incredibly fit male dancers, Ja and Oak, who, while wearing as little as they can get away with, throw themselves around the stage in a feast of pelvic thrusting and erotic dancing.
As always with the Lady Boys of Bangkok, the show is over way too soon and, as the lights dim, the crowd are cheering and shouting for more and, of course, the Lady Boys are only too happy to oblige – leaving the audience satisfied and heading home knowing that the 2015 production by the Lady Boys of Bangkok is simply the best!
***** Five Stars