CABARET AND VARIETY
Shirley Gnome
Voodoo Rooms (Venue 68), until 28 August
Shirley Gnome is a self-confessed “lady who enjoys the company of men” and, much to our surprise (given that her appearance makes Dolly Parton look like Joni Mitchell), the world’s least likely Canadian. Shirley is an absolute blast, back with us after a nine-year absence. From Milli Riperton to M.I.A., down the “douche vortex” and through some impressive twerking in High Waisted pants, to the Best Bucket Speech of the Fringe 2022, she fills her Voodoo Room with the expertly harnessed energy of the oestrogen-blessed blonde bombshell. Full disclosure: I think the ‘blonde’ might be a wig. Shirley is what my father would describe as “all woman”. And Shirley knows how to work it. Her songs are like nothing else you will hear and her voice kicks musical ass all the way down her hour. Decoxification is the name of the show and “singing songs about f***ing” has been the name, she tells us, of Shirley’s game. Just for us she adds a Yappy Dog, some unexpected – and ridiculously funny – ‘ventriloquism’, and a clever number about stolen hit pop songs, which is just too close to the Axis of Awesome’s genius Four Chords for me to enjoy it more. Dirty texting with emojis alongside STDS and emotional support babies, Amish sex and the most smartest, sassiest song about #metoo you will ever enjoy, keep this hour belting along. But even if you cannot make the beginning of the show, it is worth whatever you might fold and put in her busket just to see Shirley strip down to her big High Waisted pants and do things through the medium of song and stretch cotton that will live in your laughing parts for ever. It is a glorious experience and absolutely not to be missed.