SAUCY JACK & THE SPACE VIXENS The Venue, off Leicester Square ~ Reviewed by Klif Fuller Back in 1998 SJ&TSV had risen from it's Edinburgh Fringe roots to become a fully fledged West End stage show and I wrote a positive review of that production for The Chronicles. Since then I've seen the show a further three times (when it had a residency in an old railway arch by London Bridge for about three years) and again now it's back in London's West End. That show I saw at the Queen's Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue back in '98 was a proper stage show with the audience sitting out in front of the stage. However when it moved to London Bridge and into 'Saucy Jack's Bar' it became a whole new experience. The show would take place around you as you sat in the bar/club. The bar staff were actors in the production. Prior to curtain up, bar owner 'Jack' would wander among the clientele asking if everything was to their satisfaction etc. It was inter-active theatre. This new production has elements of both earlier versions with half a dozen rows of seats that overlook the tables and chairs on the dance floor adjacent to the stage area. However the cast frequently leave the stage to dance and sing among the audience. In fact, even during the interval all the actors stay in character. So what is SJ&TSV all about? It's about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on! Set in 'Saucy Jack's Bar' on the planet Frottage 3 (in a universe where man made fetish materials like latex, rubber and plastic are outlawed) several cabaret artistes at Jack's have fallen prey to a deadly murderer known as the 'Sling Back Killer' whose weapon of choice is the heel of a stiletto shoe (plunged into the victim's heart.). Following the death of singer 'Vulva Savannah', The Space Vixens ("crime fighting federal agents from a groovier galaxy whose power is derived from a disco beat") arrive to solve the case. Meanwhile, Chesty Prospects (played by Carmen Cusack), a butch lesbian smuggler of 'illicet materials' arrives in the bar (cue song 'Plastic, Leather and Love') and falls victim to the killer..but not before hitting on Vixen, Bunny Lingus (Malitsa Nicola). Vixen Anna Labia (Gemmaa Zirfas) gets the hots for resident sax player Sammy Sax (Joel Karie) and would you believe it...even Vixen's leader Jubilee Climax (ex Steps star Faye Tozer) used to date Jack! (Scott Baker) Can the Vixens solve the case while each battling with their own personal demons and emotions? Will waitress Booby Shevalle (Carl Mullaney) ever fulfil her dream of joining the Vixens? Will Sammy ever find a Vixen to love him? Who is 'The Sling Back Killer'? And just what is the dark, sweaty secret of barman Mitch Maypole (Paul Christopher) and psychiatrist bar fly Dr Wilhelm von Whackoff (Mark Carroll)? Despite changing one or two lyrics and dropping two songs from the original score the two hours still fly by packed with smutty innuendo, double entendres and fantastically catchy tunes (Vixen's anthem 'Glitter Boots Saved My Life' and 'All I Need Is Disco' being two of the standouts). I must admit that Scott Baker is not the best Jack I've seen, Sammy could do with a bit more practice on the saxophone and Hannah Waddingham (from the original stage show) was by far the best Chesty I've seen (although Carmen Cusack in this production is pretty damned good) but the nine strong cast give it everything they have and their enthusiasm is contagious. One of our party only came to 'make up the numbers' and is already trying to arrange another trip to take friends (and has eagerly borrowed my soundtrack CD). SJ&TSV is on at the venue, adjacent to the Prince Charles Cinema off Leicester Square for a 'limited run' only. Tickets are a rather steep £30 but parties of eight or more get theirs for £20 each. I've no idea if ''Saucy Jack's Bar'' and the production will remain at The Venue after this limited run so why not treat your self while you can? Wrap up in some bubble wrap, slip into your Glitter Boots and have one of the most enjoyable evenings imaginable. www.saucy-jack.co.uk Klif Fuller