Alicia Adejobi learns all about thrush, how the Daily Mail gives you cancer and why Vikki Stone's grandad uses Tena...
Having never visited a musical comedy night before, I'm looking forward to seeing the woman described as a cross between Jack Black and Victoria Wood. Yes, the one and only Vikki Stone is taking over the Royal Vauxhall Tavern for a short 45 minute set to enlighten us about pop culture.
Starting a little later than planned, Stone bounces onto the stage with her larger than life personality and begins to deliver a performance which gradually gets better as it goes on. Looking around the small, dark room which is usually used for gay cabaret shows, she realises that there are only about 10 people watching - including bar staff and the ticket lady. “There's so few of you I may as well know who you are”, she laughs. We take it in turns to shout out our names.
Stone chooses to focus on the media's obsession with claiming that everything around gives us cancer. She appears to have a vendetta against the “racist” Daily Mail, which bears the brunt of her accusations. “Apparently even touching the dirty pages it's printed on gives you cancer”, she hilariously bellows. The Hackney Empire New Act finalist moves on to proves why she is one of the best musical comediennes on the circuit, as she changes the depressing tone of the set by performing a mix of Lily Allen songs whilst brilliantly directing her anger at Cheryl Cole. The room fills with gasps as she claims Cole's malaria is nothing compared to Sam Fox's rabies. As she reels out her controversial and honest lyrics, I begin to understand why Stone stands out from the crowd.
As she continues her set, I'm amazed by the surprising range of Stone's vocal abilities and musical talent, and how she's able to seamlessly combine them with her sense of humour. Although she doesn't get to take all the credit - her band, consisting of two bass players and a drummer, are brilliant and do well to provide backing vocals. It is easy to see why Stone was chosen to lend her voice on Elton John's tour.
When I wasn't mesmerised by Stone's talent, I noticed that the show had a very strong sexual theme. If she wasn't talking about the man that occasionally comes to her house (ahem), or singing that she “needs a dildo” to the tune of Bonnie Tyler's famous hit, then she was hinting that she has thrush- or not, as she wants us to believe. She also gives us an unnecessary insight into her grandfather's bladder problems. “The other day my Mum told me he uses Tena”. Nice.
If anyone in the audience had any doubts about her talent during the last 45 minutes, Stone makes sure she puts those to bed when she hilariously rounds up her performance by belting out the Jurassic Park theme tune. Finishing to a loud round of applause, it seems I'm not the only one who believes she's managed to put on a great performance which did well to highlight her talents and prove she has a successful future ahead of her.
You can catch Vikki at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern on 23rd August.
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