Closure Cabaret @ Hoots Nicholson Square
Maria Ansdell’s Closure Cabaret is an adorable, heartfelt, hilarious little show about learning to love and, perhaps by its end, learning to let go
There's never an easy fix for heartbreak, but Maria Ansdell and her Closure Cabaret might just have the solution. Step into a world (or a hut, we suppose) of love, sentimentality, and seduction, brought to life through a truly spellbinding performance.
Razmatastique – the Cabaret’s delightfully flirtatious, hopelessly romantic emcee, complete with a slightly faltering French accent – is endlessly entertaining and impressively versatile. As well as hosting, she sings, dances, and even raps (sort of), all while conjuring an entire cast of her past lovers. It’s hard not to be struck by her command of character as she darts behind the heart-shaped curtain, shifting seamlessly from a playground pirate to a wannabe poet from her university days.
Most notable of all is a love-bombing illusionist who will sweep you (and it may literally be you, as audience participation is a must) off your feet, whisking you through a mime routine of whirlwind romance headed for a fairytale ending. Well, that’s until you’re abruptly ushered off the stage just as you reach the altar. The heartbreak in Ansdell’s eyes is deeply affecting, revealing just how rooted the show is in her own emotional history. If this is her attempt at exposure therapy, it’s a bold choice. It’s also a gorgeously poignant moment, carried by Ansdell’s profound skill as a performer. There’s something disarming about Ansdell; something about Closure Cabaret that opens the heart and the mind.
After this comes a nymphomaniac cowboy whom poor Razmatastique once met on Hinge, effectively the wild west. He provides much-needed laughter after the emotional rollercoaster of the previous character, but for those of us who’ve been snared by one of these cowboys before, we’re glad to see him go.
As Razmatastique sheds the cowboy costume, her face loses its usual bright, wide-eyed expression. She looks tired, hurt. As the show goes on, it becomes increasingly clear that love has not always been kind to her. It’s this shared experience of heartbreak that ultimately allows Razmatastique to break from her dependence on romantic relationships and embrace the love she has for herself, her audience, and her Closure Cabaret. What a wonderful thing it is to fall in love with Closure Cabaret alongside her.
Closure Cabaret, Hoots at Nicholson Square (Nic 7), until 30 Aug, 4pm, pay what you can from £9