EXCLUSIVE REVIEW: “Pearl & Dean Cabaret” at Bar Broadway, Brighton

If you’re craving a heady cocktail of old-school cabaret, contemporary satire, and unapologetic camp, Brighton’s Bar Broadway has just the tonic. Last night’s performance of Pearl & Dean Cabaret proved that this Off-Broadway-style venue can punch well above its weight when it comes to theatrical mischief and musical excellence. Staged in the warmly lit intimacy […]

Staged in the warmly lit intimacy of Bar Broadway’s upstairs space — a haven for Brighton’s musical theatre devotees — Pearl & Dean takes the form of a cruise-themed fever dream aboard the good ship Watery Queen. Our hosts for the voyage, the glamorous and gloriously unhinged Peter Pearl and Marsha Dean, are part cruise ship entertainers, part deranged cabaret visionaries.

From the first bar of music to the final cheeky wink, the show barrels through a range of musical numbers and original skits that balance nostalgia with knowing parody. Think Noël Coward meets RuPaul’s Drag Race with a splash of Victoria Wood. One moment you’re tapping your foot to a jaunty sea-shanty inspired duet, and the next, you’re laughing out loud at a deadpan monologue about heterosexual marital bliss delivered with delicious irony.

Peter Pearl brings a velvety voice and razor-sharp timing, evoking shades of Alan Cumming in his prime, while Marsha Dean — all sequins and sass — works the crowd with the knowing precision of a cabaret veteran. Their chemistry is electric; you get the sense they’re not just performing together but conspiring, lovingly, to bring the audience under their chaotic spell.

What sets this show apart is its attention to detail: the script is tight, the musical transitions are seamless, and even the smallest moments (like a passing glance or fluffed lyric) are mined for comic gold. But behind the glam and gags lies a sharp political undercurrent — subtle jabs at British exceptionalism, queerness on the high seas, and the sheer absurdity of cruise culture lend the production a subversive bite.

Of course, it’s not without its quirks. A couple of musical numbers could do with a trim, and a slightly chaotic prop change midway through Act Two briefly broke the spell. But in a way, those moments only added to the cabaret charm — you’re not here for perfection, you’re here for personality. And Pearl & Dean delivers that in buckets.I

n a city like Brighton, where the line between nightlife and performance art is often delightfully blurred, Pearl & Dean Cabaret is a shimmering standout. It’s bold, queer, smart, and just the right amount of silly.

Reviewers Score: A Crusin’ ☆

Reviewers Verdict: A riotous, lovingly crafted cabaret cruise you’ll want to take again and again. Brighton has a new cult classic in the making.