Beach Blanket Babylon

This review was started by Steve Silver in San Francisco in 1974.The title comes from the Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello movies set on the beach in California with beach blankets,starry nights and petting by the ocean.

This is the reviews first visit to London and many topical anecdotes have been added.It has a cast of a dozen and tells the story of Snow White and her search for a prince.Various fairy godmothers including Oprah Winfrey send her around the world to meet such luminaries as Louis XIV (an over the top pink French poodle),an Italian restaurant owner with a giant size pizza on her head ,a Japanese maid with an apron stating 'Made in Japan'.who manages to do a chorus of 'Oklahoma' which becomes 'Yokohama' and Japanese chorus boys to match.Finally she reaches London and of course meets the Queen.'Have you a prince for me she asks''Ihave three but you would not want them'is the reply.Then we meet Diana,Fergie(who had the biggest laugh of the evening )and the princes.Delia Smith with a hat incorporating a tea pot and cup cakes and a mixing bowl is also on hand.Snow White finds her Prince back in the good old U.S.A.The finale is a riot of colour with tropical headresses a la Carmen Miranda for the boys and girls of the chorus and truly spectacular headdresses for the principals,a must for all those who love glamour and a touch of camp.

(John fields)