29/10/15: A long, long time ago (well, last Thursday actually) in deepest darkest Vauxhall, a cantankerous cabaret star known all over the land for her sharp tongue and love of all things leopard print, readied herself in the dressing room of the eerily silent Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
In this historic building – dating back to the Victorian era – artists from all walks of life have taken to the stage for almost as long as Cliff Richard has been relentlessly churning out spine-tingling music. As the latest in that illustrious list, Myra DuBois, gazed into the mirror and rehearsed her cackle whilst furiously lacquering her hair, this real life Northern powerhouse listened intently with one ear cocked as the hoards of Halloween revellers started to gather outside, waiting for her to totter onto the stage with a snarl.
Myra completed the ritualistic pre-show routine she’s sworn by for years and turned to her pianist, taking one last deep breath before exclaiming theatrically: “RIGHT LOVE, we best get show ont’ road. Shower of shites want entertaining, don’t they?”
Yes, that’s right, it was time for Myra DuBois highly anticipated Monster Mash show, and no one does it quite like Countess DuBois. I mean, where else would you hear a medley of Ghostbusters/Des’ree/Adams Family/Cabaret? Now that’s variety, folks.
Accompanied by Sarah Bodalbhai on keys, Myra also treated us to (very) dramatic versions of ‘On My Own’ (Les Mis) and ‘Money, Money, Money’ to name but a few. And as if that wasn’t enough, there was a sneak peak of her brand new novel Rotherham Wives, too.
Reading extracts from her iPhone, Myra told us: ‘I’ve only just got an iPhone. It’s great, there’s apps on it that help you have sexual intercourse with other people”. From start to finish the Tavern crowd lapped it up from the woman who can silence you with just one look, and Halloween was well and truly heralded.
372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY
Words by Jason Reid
