Lenny adds colour to Cabaret

If you recognise the face of Steve Furst, it's most likely because of Orange's long-running series of ads that pop up in the cinema (Furst is the bald English one). But back in the Ninties, Furst was successfully doing the rounds in character as the flamboyant old-school cabaret star and storyteller Lenny Beige.

And he popped up again last night to show off his trademark trousersplitting high kicks and shine a light on the joys of cabaret. Beige might be fictional, but his so-called "mentor" was pop star, actor, composer, director and author Anthony Newley, who would have probably loved the sheer joie de vivre and talent on display last night in this revived tongue-in-cheek tribute.

Beige's recollections of Newley and fictional correspondence between the two make up the betweensong-Polyfiller, conjuring up a richly evocative atmosphere of wartime rags and 1960s riches, when all-round entertainers were kings and Bruce Forsythe, Marti Caine and Matt Bianco were noms du jour. It's such a loving homage, even Newley's daughter popped up for a duet.

But it's not all sentiment. Furst's patter is as sharply funny as his toupÈe is smooth, his dancing as offbeat as his band is note-perfect and he warbles his way through hits like Goldfinger, What Kind Of Fool Am I? and Once In A Lifetime with gusto. There's enough flair and polish here to make Lionel Blair jealous - go show Beige some love.

Until Jul 10, Pigalle Club, 215 Piccadilly W1 8.30pm, £15 to £20 (0870 166 0424). Tube: Piccadilly Circus

Lenny Beige
The Pigalle Club
Piccadilly, W1