Off-the-wall wacky

DINA MARTINA

Soho Theatre, W1 THE promotional blurb for Dina Martina warns that the show contains strobe lighting. It does not, however, warn that Crème de la Dregs contains one of the wiggiest, most entertainingly deranged performances you’ll see in London this year.

Martina is the creation of America’s Grady West, partdrag act, part-performance artist. But this description barely scratches the Ronald McDonald-lipsticked surface. This latest set boasts high-kicking foghorn renditions of the hits of Duran Duran, Whitney Houston and Diana

Ross between wilfully odd anecdotes about Martina’s family and childhood visits to Disneyland.

There are all sorts of cultural echoes here. From John Waters and his muse Divine, to Edna Everage, RuPaul and Leigh Bowery. Verbal tics evoke the spirit of Harry Hill. It is a decidedly eccentric package yet one that works thanks to sheer force of personality and kitsch costume changes, including, memorably, a bra made of animal heads.

Between the unhinged moments there are genuine jokes too. The frenetic pace dips a little towards the end but references to Waitrose and Mr Kipling should help to mollify an English audience momentarily confused by the mention of Nineties US television star Tori Spelling.

If you like your comedy off-the-dial Martina will be just the ticket. It should be said that it may not be to everyone’s tastes. If you enjoy Peter Kay, the strobe lighting may be the least of your issues.

Until March 17 (020 7478 0100, sohotheatre.com)