Review: Diamonds and Dust (Emerald Theatre)

Review by Daz Gale

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

London’s theatre scene just got a bit glitzier with the arrival of the West End’s newest venue, the Emerald Theatre. It opens with the world premiere of Diamonds and Dust, a thrilling mix of theatre, burlesque, and cirque, but would this prove to be another jewel in the crown of the West End?

Conceived and directed by Tosca Rivola and the legendary Dita Von Teese,  the show features a loose narrative telling the tale of the good, the bad and the lucky as Miss Kitty LeRoy (Faye Tozer), the Wild West’s most notorious card dealer, tells her untold story with the help of a deck of cards, hoping Lady Luck is on her side.

It isn’t the most substantial plot in the world, of course, but Diamonds and Dust is not the kind of show you go to for the plot. For what it is, it is a charming way of tying the performances together, elevated with a charming performance from Faye Tozer in the lead role. Perhaps it gets slightly messy in the show’s second act with a slight pacing issue affecting the momentum but by this point, you are already hooked, so it may well go unnoticed.

The charm of this show is in spectacle, and for that, there are no shortcomings. The blend of burlesque and cirque leads to some riveting and truly cracking performances, quite literally in a standout sequence from Tosca Rivola, an audience member, and a whip. In life, you wait for Lady Luck hoping she'll appear and that is true for Dita Von Teese, who appears as Lady Luck in certain performances. (Schedule on the website). Performing in two sequences, she demonstrates why she is so well regarded in the industry and has become such a star in her own right, with a commanding stage presence and an overall aura that makes it impossible to take your eyes off of her.

When you step into the world of Diamonds and Dust, you expect a touch of glitz and glamour, and in that respect, the show is absolutely glorious. With a beautiful set design by Philip Gladwell, the whole space of the Emerald Theatre transports you to another place to create one of the most gorgeous theatres I’ve set foot in. The costume designs are every bit as marvellous as you would hope, always thrilling to watch and adding to the spectacle.

Bringing a touch of musical theatre to the world, Faye Tozer delivers a spectacular (or should that be steptacular?) performance as Miss Kitty LeRoy, not only expertly leading the show and seguing into the burlesque and cirque sequences, but demonstrating her own talents with performances including ‘The House Of The Rising Sun’ and ‘Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)’, delivered with her own unmistakable vocals. Anyone hoping the cowboy theme would lead to an inclusion of ‘5,6,7,8’ will have to wait until the next Steps tour for that, but we do get a bit of Kylie with the standout musical performance of the evening in a storming ‘Midnight Ride’.

Diamonds and Dust is more than just a theatre show, however. It should be seen more as an experience with pre-show performances and a world to explore around the theatre. With dining options available and table service, it really did feel like a touch of Vegas has been brought to London in a space that fills an untapped market in the West End. The party doesn’t stop when the show finishes either, with a late-night experience ‘Emerald After Dark’ turning the place into a club with live entertainment and DJs. The result is a brilliant night out that will appeal to many different groups, whether they want a dining experience, a bit of theatre, a variety show or a good old hoedown. 

Diamonds and Dust is a show and an experience like no other, with a cast of incredible talents led by a blisteringly good Faye Tozer bringing to life a fabulous concept. Bringing elegance and beauty to the West End, the show frequently pulls cards out of a deck to tell its story, but there is no doubting this is an Ace in itself, with more than a trick or two up its sleeve in a real diamond of a show.

Diamonds and Dust plays at the Emerald Theatre. Tickets from https://allthatdazzles.londontheatredirect.com/musical/diamonds-and-dust-tickets

Photos by Chris Davis