More strip, less tease

Amber — real name Sheli Andrew — is like a cross between Gracie Fields, Ginger Rogers and Bette Davis in a knockout performance as northern nurse and would-be star Maggie Brown.

Written by South Yorkshire composer Matthew Bugg, director Peter Rowe’s slick production — continuing the British burlesque tradition of less strip more tease — engagingly tells a gripping story of sex, scandal and showbiz in war-torn 1940s London.

Amber, who started her career in West End musicals such as Les Miserables, is hardly ever off stage as the jewel in the crown of a classy taste of vintage glamour, comedy, wartime spirit and saucy sounds of the period brought winningly to life.

While the award-winning burlesque star is a sexy and powerful ball of glamour and cheekiness, the two male leads — Illan Goodman as George Nowodny and Tomm Coles as Sir Frank Worthington-Blythe — also show off their talents, acting and singing beautifully while also playing clarinet and saxophone in the band.

The main storyline revolves around the oppression faced by gay men in Britain at the time.

The love story between Frank and George — who wants to bring the sexual and social freedom of pre-Nazi Berlin to London — is charming and nicely acted.

Goodman’s father — actor Henry Goodman, recently seen in Copenhagen — lends his voice to the radio broadcasts and his sister Carla Goodman is the stage designer.

The story starts with Maggie trying her hand at a singing career but along with Jewish refugee song-writer, George, doors are shut in their faces everywhere.

However, aristocratic nightclub owner Worthington-Blythe takes them under his wing.

And so saucy burlesque singer, Miss Nightingale, is born, to the delight of rapturous London clubbers.

George — berating his luck as being both Polish and Jewish — and Maggie storm to success with witty numbers, great dance routines and plenty of clever and cheeky lyrics.

But the dark clouds reappear as Maggie’s relationship with her agent turns nasty and blackmail haunts Frank and George before — in the way of musicals — it all works out in the end.

The show, combining touches of My Fair Lady and Cabaret, is very funny and moving, perfectly capturing the live-for-the-moment mood born out of the horrors of war.

And it was clear what the audience thought as they applauded madly in a deserved ovation at the close in our Amber’s homecoming.