We couldn’t resist an invite for a little cruise (buckle up, there are more where that came from) on a Saturday night in Brighton. So we sailed into the Komedia Studio to see the most “heterosexual” couple (their words not ours) in showbiz.
The Studio is perfectly suited to Pearl & Dean’s high-camp, high-seas drag double act. The set was a no-frills affair, but their performance was anything but. We knew we were in for a good night when the soundtrack pre-show consisted of the ‘Dallas’ and ‘Wonder Woman’ theme tunes. One for the Gen Xers out there!
Pearl & Dean are wonderfully rude and full of high jinks and sparkles. The idea is that we have all been invited aboard their love boat and as the saying almost goes, what happens in the boat, stays in the boat. Good job as some of the stories they told about their showbiz lives together would make a sailor blush.
This is a true cabaret act with an abundance of song and dance numbers and plenty of opportunity for audience participation. At several points, people were up and dancing which was a joy to see and experience. It’s what you’d imagine dancing in a camp disco onboard a real cruise ship might be like.
Don’t worry, you’re not forced to take part if you’re not that way inclined. You can have just as much fun dancing in your seat. Although if you choose to sit at the front, you take your chances.
There’s a running theme throughout the act where Pearl & Dean allude to having worked with and being good friends with a certain famous UK singer who coincidentally got her big break on a cruise ship. Let’s just say you’ll never watch her on Gogglebox in quite the same way.
Pearl & Dean are cheeky, funny and a little bit filthy and we left the show feeling all the better for having experienced it. You’ll love this show if you’re partial to a bit of innuendo and a sing song. One of their final numbers was the rousing disco classic ‘No More Tears (Enough is Enough)’ by Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer. By the end of their performance, it was clear it wasn’t enough and we wanted a whole lot more. Ship ahoy!
By Kemi Ayoola
You can catch the last performance of their show on Saturday 23rd May at 7pm (from £7.50)
brightonfringe.org
