Feather Boas and Rave-Goers . Unveiling Illusion . Homo From Homo . A Stone in Her Shoe . Treading the Boards . Women of Brighton.

Treading the Boards

If you enjoyed the recent TV dramatisation of Sarah Waters’ novel, Tipping the Velvet, you might well appreciate a new CD of original music hall songs by male and female cross-dressing artistes of the 1920s and ’30s. With the authentic sound of a slightly crackly old seventy-eight record, you can enjoy such delights as Moanin’ for You sung by Norah Blaney and deep-voiced cellist, Gwen Farrar, who were partners both on and off stage according to the sleeve notes.

Of local interest, there are four numbers by Douglas Byng, who came to live in Arundel Terrace, Brighton, when he retired from the stage. He regales us with such camp choruses as She May Be All That’s Wonderful (But She Doesn’t Appeal to Me) and I’m a Mummy (An Old Egyptian Queen). Recognising the heritage of today’s camp performers, the notes also remark that “Douglas Byng’s comedic turn back then was as courageous as he was talented, for there was still homophobia in theatre management as a residue of Oscar Wilde’s earlier notoriety.”

The CD is called Tipping the Velvet (although it isn’t actually the soundtrack to the TV programme) and is definitely worth a listen.

(Thanks to Joyce and Margaret at MonoMania for pointing us in the direction of this CD.)