25/09/14: When it comes to mighty cabaret events, the RVT always seem to pull them off with ease. Lola’s Drag Roast – celebrating her 25th year as a performer – was certainly no exception.
Hosted by the sublimely funny Myra DuBois (that woman has a comeback for everything), the roasters included Lola’s friends, Mrs Moore, Rose Garden and Miss Jason.
The audience was full of familiar cabaret faces too, including Martha D’Arthur, Kelly Mild, Spike Rhodes and Stephanie Von Clitz to name but a few.
However everyone was gathered to see the fearsome five go to town on each other, all in charity’s name, of course, and they didn’t disappoint. “We will be hearing about the highlights of Lola’s career tonight… so we should be in the Brewers by 9.30” Myra joked, stony-faced.
The roasters took their turn like a verbal firing squad; all three providing perfect put-downs, witty one-liners and anecdotes that would make Parky wince.
All good things come to those who wait, and Lola returned the favour with a beautifully executed series of retorts. The evening ended on a rousing finale, with Lola aptly singing ‘I’m Still Here’ followed by a hilarious improvised encore. Lola’s final words: “Follow that, bitches.”
A truly memorable night, with laughs from beginning to end and all for a great cause too: over £1,000 was raised for Terrence Higgins Trust.
What you missed…
Myra Dubois:
“Lola’s jokes are a lot like Malaysia Airlines. They never land.”
“We have Miss Jason, the jäger-bomb queen, and Mrs Moore, the skittle-bomb queen, both here tonight. Between them, they’ve had more bombs than Gaza.”
Mrs Moore on Lola:
“Someone said to me the other day, ‘technically you bake a lasagne’, to which I responded, ‘yeah, but you roast a hog.’
Rose Garden on Lola:
“Your idea of weightlifting is standing up.”
Miss Jason on Lola
“I just love your ginger hair and sparkly frock. You look like a cross between Linda La Hughes and a scatter cushion.”
Lola on Myra:
“Her sex life is much like her humour. Quick, cutting and at least one person cries.”
Lola on Mrs Moore:
“A feisty girl with plenty of spunk. Mostly on her neck!”
Lola on Rose:
“She’s Northern Irish, in case you didn’t know. In fact, so much so, that she phones ahead to venues with a coded warning.”
Lola on Miss Jason:
“Miss Jason jumped at the chance of being here. I say jumped, she breaks a sweat nodding.”
The RVT, 349 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, SE11 5HY
Words by Jason Reid
Photos by Chris Jepson
