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Two Ladies: La Bella Bimba at Barons Court Theatre / Canal Cafe Theatre

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T hey sing. They dance. They clown around. They even wash clothes! Such is the story of La Bella Bimba, part of the Voila Theatre Festival, which highlights new and emerging artists. A tale of two Italian ladies who land in 1920s New York, trying to break into Broadway without speaking a word of English. It’s harmless, primarily even if a little nonsensical, and is currently playing as part of the Voila! Theatre Festival .  I caught the performance at the Barons Court Theatre , where the intimate setting created an evocative atmosphere reminiscent of dark New York alleyways. The space was almost claustrophobic with a distinct smell of rising damp, making you feel immersed in the story of two Ladies hanging around the theatre doors of Broadway. On the plus side, the theatre has some of the most comfortable seats you will find in any pub theatre in London. As the naive and hopeful singers, Co-creator Lucrezia Galeone as Carlotta and Sarah Silvestri as Cecilia are fine singers with co...

Singing out: Alexandra Da Silva @pizzapheasantry


Alexandra Da Silva returned last week with her show La Petite Divatante at the Pheasantry in Chelsea.

For a little lady she has a big voice and the show is an opportunity to show off her musicality. And make a little fun of her height. She sings Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid with new lyrics by Christina Bianco about being too short to enjoy the sun.

But it is her reflective ballads linger with you. Her vocal, which at times has a country feel, gives these pieces extra emotional pull.


Particularly poignant was her performance of the song about 9/11, I'll be here (from Ordinary Days). Her interpretation of the lyrics and tender delivery underscored the emotion of the piece.

There is added excitement when joining her she is joined onstage by Caroline Gregory and they sing the duet from Sideshow I Will Never Leave You.

These moments work well and contrast with the bigger, brassier and showstopping numbers that fill the rest of the list.

It is refreshing to have a song list in cabaret that draws from so many recent Broadway shows. She deftly handles the comic possibilities arising from singing Killer Instinct (from the musical Bring It On) and Screw Loose (Cry Baby).

Reprising her comic turn from the Kander and Ebb revue The World Goes Round she also performs Ring Them Bells and Cabaret. They are so enjoyable it is hard to resist them becoming a singalong...

Her bubbly personality and infectious enthusiasm makes the evening a delight. If there is anything missing it would be a dialogue with the audience explaining why these songs mean so much to her. But with music director Joe Louis Robinson and Phil Donnelly on guitar, things are kept at a brisk pace. So there isn't much time to dwell on this.

Alexandra Da Silva does not yet have a long list of credits to her name, but her comic and dramatic potential makes her someone to watch. Hopefully we will get the opportunity to see her on the stage again soon.

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