by Zahid Fayyaz

The New York cabaret star returns to London after the previous success of their Smiths/Frankenstein tribute show, with this personal and sensitive show focusing on Annie Lennox, Judy Garland, as well as Kate Chopin’s groundbreaking feminist novel The Awakening. As part of his Living Record Collection project, all these elements are mixed up with autobiographical elements of his own life, in a stunning 90-minute long cabaret show of real power and sensitivity.

Accompanied by a four-piece band, Salty belts out several songs from Annie Lennox’s debut album, Judy Garland’s iconic live session at Carnegie Hall, and original songs based on The Awakening. Alternating between stories of his parents’ divorce and the plot of The Awakening, Salty brings it all together to show an understanding of what his mother was going through at the time. There is a lot of audience interaction throughout, including the enlisting of a spectator in the front row to stand in for Edna’s lover from the novel. This results in some outrageous flirting. Quite a few other audience members also end up with a singing Salty on their laps. It’s all in good fun, and the crowd have a whale of a time.

This is an emotional and highly personal show from Salty, and very much worth watching. It is equally moving as it is entertaining.

Salty Brine: These Are The Contents Of My Head (The Annie Lennox Show) runs through 26 April.

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