Review by Steve Bennett

Slutty Livin' is akin to some kind of drunken seance where, instead of channelling the voices of the dead, a larger-than-life drag porn star instead becomes a vessel for everyone from Billy Connolly to Elton John with unnerving accuracy and dollops of lascivious, rapier-sharp wit. Not the neatest analogy, but this is a show better experienced than described.

Resplendent in a black lace get-up reminiscent of Cher circa 1988, Livinia Slutford is the comic creation of Jonathan Hellyer, one of the UK's leading gay cabaret performers.

A big-haired porn actress with the voice of an angel and mouth of a docker, she's as sophisticated as Angel Delight and a similarly guilty pleasure. Through a series of lip-licking, eyelash-fluttering episodes not so much dripping in innuendo as drowning in the stuff, Livinia offers the audience a tantalising showcase of her many talents, be they physical, sexual or, as for the most part, vocal.

Hellyer's voice is stunning ; he can switch from belting out Annie Lennox to a silly reworking of an Elton John ballad almost seamlessly. He's witty - skilfully balancing the gleeful, gratuitous filth with incisive satire – andwarm. Not everyone could pull off - or would even attempt - three encores, but such is the audience's affection for Livinia, Hellyer bows and beams his way through to thunderous applause.

Livinia is far from being as fully-formed a character as, say, Chris Green's Tina C, but she's more than mere novelty act. If Hellyer can build on this brilliant start, Livinia Slutford could go down in comedy history.

Reviewed by: Nione Meakin

Review date: 1 Jan 2008
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett