THE BEST (AND WORST) OF QUEENIE VAN DE ZANDT

Queenie Van De Zandt’s new cabaret show The Best (and Worst) of Queenie Van De Zandt was a salute to her 20-years survival in musical theatre. It was a funny walk down her memory lane which an enthusiastic audience embraced wholeheartedly.

Using archival video clips of her various performances and songs that meant something to her for one reason or another, her act was a lesson in the art of self-deprecating humor. She topped and tailed the act with songs by ABBA (“I Wonder” /”Happy New Year”), sang iOTA’s “Come Back For Me” (Smoke and Mirrors), and paid homage to her mentor Nick Enright with “I’ll Hold On” from Miracle City.

Her patter was almost entirely built around genitalia raunch with the “Dick Song” from The Vagina Monologues scoring big laughs. “50 Per-Cent” from Ballroom was a nice emotional moment.

A warm performer, Queenie connected in spades with her audience, helped by the skill of long-time accompanist Lucy Birmingham on piano.

Peter Pinne