'Diamonds and Dust' review — Dita Von Teese’s glamorous new show is a real treat for burlesque fans

Read our review of Diamonds and Dust, co-starring Faye Tozer, now in performances at the Emerald Theatre to 28 September.

Burlesque is currently having a moment in London and there is no bigger name in the game than Dita Von Teese. In Diamonds and Dust, the Queen of Burlesque not only stars, but produces, choreographs and makes her directorial debut. It’s a unique opportunity to see her perform – and she does not disappoint.

Taking over the old Proud Embankment site, the newly opened Emerald Theatre plays host to America’s Wild West, with a plot loosely based on a true story. Kitty Le Roy works her way through five husbands to establish her own gambling saloon, The Mint. Calling on Lady Luck for help, she finds a path to success on her own terms. The story is paper-thin, with a script that borders on parody. But that is not what people have come to see.

Von Teese (who appears at selected performances) has a special stage magnetism that few performers possess. As Lady Luck she is resplendent in Christian Louboutin shoes and incredible pink bejewelled outfits, managing to fire up the audience to fever pitch just by removing a single glove. Graceful, composed, seductive and very much aware of the power of her body, Von Teese shows why she is a master (or mistress) of her craft. Her final striptease on a pink velvet, slow-motion bucking bronco is a sight to behold.

Three male dancers appear in supporting roles, but the women are the stars of a production that’s written about women, by women, and features a predominately female cast. Show creator Tosca Rivola brims with knowing wit and impresses in several acts. Her cyr wheel routine is seamless, demonstrating very deft and precise execution on a relatively small stage. Lady Lydia and Zoë Marshall are particularly captivating; their dual aerial strap routine shows extraordinary strength, flexibility and dexterity.

Ex-Steps singer Faye Tozer is not someone you would automatically associate with burlesque, but she holds her own here. As Kitty Le Roy she’s an emcee figure, narrating her own story and singing a few songs live. Tozer has very natural stage presence and maintains her Southern drawl well.

Things stutter a little when she mingles with the audience and she fails to demonstrate the extra sharp wit needed for ad-libbed crowd work. As her character is meant to be a card shark, it also seems like a wasted opportunity when she performs some very obviously pre-determined card tricks.

Choreography by Matt Nicholson, along with Von Teese and Rivola, creates slick and powerful movement, particularly in an opening gun fight scene. One less successful segment features a male dancer awkwardly doing chin-ups on a chandelier, showing this night really does belong to the girls.

The glitzy, high-quality costumes feature an abundance of feathers, diamanté, gold and red lame, and acres of tassels. With no real set to speak of, Philip Gladwell’s lighting adds drama and atmosphere, along with Lewis Carnie’s well-chosen music which features a range of tracks from Nancy Sinatra and Eartha Kitt to Lana Del Rey.

For an evening oozing with old-school glamour, fans of burlesque should head down to the Embankment this summer for a naughty treat.

Diamonds and Dust is at the Emerald Theatre to 28 September. Book Diamonds and Dust tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Photo credit: Diamonds and Dust (Photos by Chris Davis Studio)