The Wam Bam Club

Glen Mutel heads to the Cafe de Paris for an evening of good old-fashioned entertainment

When it comes to clubbing, the socialites of the 1920s had the right idea. I’d gladly swap today’s sticky dancefloors and predictable playlists for a comfy seat, well-dressed company and a spot of cabaret in ornate surrounds.

With that in mind, I headed to the Cafe de Paris in Coventry Street — opened in 1924 and still going strong. Tonight it hosts The Wam Bam Club, a weekly mix of burlesque, music, comedy and curiosity.

While many guests opted for a full dining package, we contented ourselves with a balcony seat, a bottle of gin and buckets of ice. From our lofty vantage point, we were treated to a two-hour show that was packed with surprises.

Things got off to a risque start with in-house dance troupe Cabaret Rouge followed by multi-talented burlesque starlet Chrys Columbine, who managed to strip while playing the piano! Drag queen Bunny Galore kept things suitably saucy and Lady Alex’s tribute to Gary Glitter was in wonderfully poor taste. Aerial performers High Tales and the incredible contact juggler Matt Hennem brought real variation to proceedings, while the comedy came from Ariadne the Greek WAG and headliners Cardinal Burns, who treated us to a bizarre musical homage to the Turkish taxi driver.

All in all, a truly memorable evening, and a great alternative to the usual Saturday night.

www.wambamclub.com

Image: Wam Bam Club