The new KING VILLA show . . . directed by Elkie Deadman

Swingers in Suspenders

Welcome to a swinging cabaret night at the King Villa Lounge, Sunset Boulevard.

"Tonight we leave the Great Depression outside, say no to prohibition and swing our way through Hollywood's

golden age with some of the best swingers in the business ."

James Cagney and Joan Crawford host a galaxy of musical stars ... Bing Crosby, Marlene Dietrich, Groucho Marx,

Carmen Miranda, Dean Martin, Edith Piaf, The Andrews Sisters and Frank Sinatra have already agreed to lend their talents!

So ...what could possibly go wrong? . . .

King Villa performers Jo King and Alexi Harden sing and play piano, trumpet and saxophone in "Glorious Technicolor"

and occasionally stark "Film Noir". Song, dance, comedy, puppetry, glamorous costumes (including suspenders) are all here

in a kaleidoscopic, burlesque review of the 1930's, 40's and 50's.

Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters

Jo King co-founded King Villa with Rachel Colles in 1998, after touring with Horse and Bamboo, Kneehigh and Pentabus theatre companies.

Since 2003 he has enjoyed success with his solo production 'the frankly SINATRA show' in Spain, Holland and Great Britain.

Jo King as Bing Crosby

He first joined forces with Alexi Harden back in 1975, when they hit the dizzy heights of High Wycombe with a guitar,

five Beatles' songs and 32 beans in a jam-jar!

Alexi Harden has been a professional piano teacher for 25 years. Now she enjoys occasionally breaking away from the

confines of the classroom, and revealing her suspenders to everyone!

Alexi Harden as Joan Crawford

Little Girls From Little Rock

Technical Requirements

DURATION AND SUITABILITY - The complete show consists of two 45-minute sets. We require an interval of 20 minutes to allow time for resetting props and costume changes. The show is aimed at adults but suitable for anyone over 11 yrs old. P.G certificate.

GET IN - OUT - It usually takes us two hours to build up the P.A, set up the back screens and sort out the costumes and props. Any extra help we get reduces this time. We prefer to have everything ready one hour before the show begins, or earlier in order to be ready before the audience arrive at the venue. Get outs take an hour.

PERFORMANCE SPACE - Ideally 5 meters wide by 3 meters deep.

AMPLIFICATION AND LIGHTS - We have our own sound system and lights

Lilli Marlene

photo by Dickon Siddall

Carmen Miranda and James Cagney

Carmen Miranda and Groucho Marx

photo by Dickon Siddall

A message from Cuba

photo by Dickon Siddall

Live footage from the show

Quotes from the tour so far:

'Fresh and dynamic, it really was top notch entertainment.'

Cleve Prior Village Hall, Feb 2009

The great surprise to me was how funny it all was – I didn’t expect to be laughing so much . . .

The costumes were amazing.

From The Queniborough Gazette March 2009

'We have had an absolutely fabulous evening – so funny and so entertaining.'

Shutford Village Hall, Feb 2009

'Excellent in every respect. No-one wanted to go home!'

Birlingham Village Hall, Feb 2009

'A lively and faultlessly performed show'

Fechenham Village Hall, March 2009

'Could not have chosen a better act or more enjoyable evening than King Villa'

Bentley Village Hall, April 2009

'A wonderfully relaxing evening, which brought back nostalgic memories. Thank you very much for a great Friday evening!'

'A most entertaining and enjoyable evening. Very talented couple. Many thanks.'

'Fantastic'

Live and Local promoters, Feb 2009

'Yes please Miss Crawford!'

Most of the men in the audience

Review from Wholton Village Hall 30 October 2009 (North Penine Highlights)

Swingers in Suspenders The only thing missing from the King Villa Lounge on Cabaret Night (in Whorlton Village Hall) were the drifting clouds of cigarette smoke; the candles were lit, the punters were dressed to kill and as the glittering lights went up on stage they found themselves transported to the glamorous, swinging world of Hollywood in the 30s, 40s and 50s. The King Villa set looked perfect on the Whorlton stage: black against black with just the piano on one side and, that standard Hollywood prop, the ol’ lantern, on the other. A full orchestra (“hidden behind the curtains because their faces were all so ugly!”) struck up bang on cue (deftly controlled by a foot switch) and played brilliantly well throughout the evening to accompany the stars. Impressario, Jo King, (no I’m not, he really is called that) conjured up Sinatra, and James Cagney, he slipped in to Bing Crosby mode or Dean Martin with just a change of th e hat. His voice was rich and deep, like melted chocolate and his performance was unnervingly convincing. Jo’s wife Alexi Harden, our co-host and pianist for the evening was masquerading in the guise of Joan Crawford. She normally makes her living teaching piano but she was able (with some slick costume changes) to introduce us to a galaxy of famous female stars; an aging Edith Piaf for one and the thoroughly delightful and husky Marlene Dietrich, complete with musical suspenders for another!

Previous reviews have described this act as “Slick, witty, musically brilliant, totally accessible and excellent fun,” I would say Amen to all that. The crowd went wild; there was dancing in the aisles and singing round the cabaret tables; there were ovations and encores and we were not disappointed. Jo and Alexi came back time and again to rapturous applause. They are a marvellous double act and we hope to have them back in the not too distant future.

Mary Stastny