Sunday Cabaret at Cafe Koha

Maya Levy. Photo Credit: Vishi Vishvanath

Sunday Cabaret at Café Koha is a delightful evening out. Hidden between the Wyndam and Noel Coward theatre, it’s a cosy, downstairs space with a friendly crowd – although this leads to visibility issues regarding the cabaret acts. Without a stage, you need to sit where you can and hope for the best. Unfortunately, it’s a much more suitable space for during dinner entertainment than a cabaret show, and these are acts which demand your attention.

This month’s guest was comedy-singer Maya Levy. With an act including a singalong, a rap, and ‘The Unexpected Re-encounter of Pochahontas and John Smith’; Levy is an extremely likeable, crowd friendly act for anybody and everybody. Perhaps, in particular for the social group I will refer to (at my own risk) as singletons; Levy does stray into that familiar zone of female stand ups. The content of her musical puns is in touch with everyday life, which is what makes it funny; however this also makes it feel occasionally repetitive. Her songs never seem to get off their feet and develop; they feel like neglected playdough sculptures a child began to play with but became bored with after a little while. As a result, with their ‘piddly diddly’ accompaniments, Levy’s songs seek the childish silliness we love about singer-comedians like Tim Minchin, but lack the genius of his lyrics. Her act could afford to boast Levy’s advantageous musical training, over its currently simple structure which only lays bare the space for improvement.

Ismena Collective. Photo Credit: Karla Gowlett

Where Levy’s material lent itself to the social atmosphere of Café Koha, their hosts, Ismena Collective, is more the standard of cabaret we expect from a venue in the heart of the West End. Their song choices span the comedic vernacular of Goldrich and Heisler, to soulful renditions of Weill. Perhaps eclectic choices, they are linked by tales of treading the boards, and the programme is well-balanced. These lesser known tunes are instant audience favourites without reverting to done to death musicals. Ismena’s prima donna, Sara Cluderay, didn’t bat an eyelid at what should have been major spatial issues for a predominantly musical theatre trio. With the deft flicking of a feather boa round her shoulder, she made what there was of a stage, her own; finding a lyrical charm in every character.

Equally, Mayda Narvey’s cello, and Katherine Woolley’s piano accompaniments are arranged sophisticatedly, and compliment the intimacy of the venue. Brashy belts and brass would be welcome interpretations of some of these numbers – especially Weill’s perhaps – but Ismena Collective has a style all their own.  They showcase the bright clarity of Cluderay’s voice before any bells and whistles. Sunday Cabaret at Café Koha provides a pleasant alternative to sitting in and watching The Voice on the television, when there’s some excellent voices to be heard at your local café.

The next Sunday Cabaret at Café Koha will be July 1. Join the mailing list to find out when tickets for next month go on sale, at www.ismenacollective.com

The Ismena Collective’s next performance will be Love and Lust Cabaret at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, May 23. Tickets available at www.rvt.org.uk

Maya Levy’s next performance will be at the Open Arts Café, May 24. Tickets available at www.openartscafe.com