“Not a happy or a nice story” is how chief Tiger Lilly Martyn Jacques described Frank Wedekind’s original Lulu verses in the programme.
As subject matter Lulu was perfect for The Tiger Lillies. Its Victorian setting reflected the acoustic arrangements of the music – occasionally augmented by Theremin and musical saw.
And the story of a young girl being used and abused all her life by a cast of vile characters fitted in with the black comedy of their extensive back catalogue.
Presiding over all her tormentors was the white-faced Jacques as her round-shouldered lecherous father Shig, who had the power to stop it all, but instead took the money. A final coda of Her Heart Belongs To Daddy let us know who the true villain of the piece was.
The addition of Mark Holthusen’s projections and dancer Laura Caldow as Lulu only enhanced the live experience. Unlike Brighton Festival 2013’s The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner the band weren’t separated from the audience behind a gauze. Instead Caldow was able to step out from Holthusen’s 3D fantasy world to interact with the band.
A couple of repetitive brothel-based songs in the second half dragged the action a little until the most famous murderer of all time appeared in the London fog to provide a thrilling conclusion.
Four stars
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