Three Weeks at the Edinburgh Festival
At first glance, I couldn't help but feel that I had seen Miss Lavinia Slutford somewhere before. Could it have been that I had seen her in one of her pioneering porn musicals- 'Seven Rides For Seven Brothers', 'Oklahomo' or 'Tranny Get Your Gun'? Christ, I hope not. Lavinia, Jonathan Hellyer's alter ego, announces that she will be slipping into various people during the show. Thankfully, she means celebrity characters and not audience members, and she does this with aplomb and an amazing aptitude for adopting accents. Drag shows are notoriously funny but often mean spirited bitch-fests; instead, 'Slutty Livin' is a showcase for Hellyer's extraordinarily broad ranging vocals and comedic acting skills.
Nione Meakin
Slutty Livin' is akin to some kind of drunken seance where, instead of channelling the voices of the dead, a larger-than-life drag porn star instead becomes a vessel for everyone from Billy Connolly to Elton John with unnerving accuracy and dollops of lascivious, rapier-sharp wit. Not the neatest analogy, but this is a show better experienced than described.
Resplendent in a black lace get-up reminiscent of Cher circa 1988, Livinia Slutford is the comic creation of Jonathan Hellyer, one of the UK's leading gay cabaret performers.
A big-haired porn actress with the voice of an angel and mouth of a docker, she's as sophisticated as Angel Delight and a similarly guilty pleasure. Through a series of lip-licking, eyelash-fluttering episodes not so much dripping in innuendo as drowning in the stuff, Livinia offers the audience a tantalising showcase of her many talents, be they physical, sexual or, as for the most part, vocal.
Hellyer's voice is stunning ; he can switch from belting out Annie Lennox to a silly reworking of an Elton John ballad almost seamlessly. He's witty - skilfully balancing the gleeful, gratuitous filth with incisive satire – andwarm. Not everyone could pull off - or would even attempt - three encores, but such is the audience's affection for Livinia, Hellyer bows and beams his way through to thunderous applause.
Livinia is far from being as fully-formed a character as, say, Chris Green's Tina C, but she's more than mere novelty act. If Hellyer can build on this brilliant start, Livinia Slutford could go down in comedy history.
Tristan Barber - 10 Aug 2008
"...a tight revamp from Jonathan Hellyer... I expect this show to blossom and bear rich fruit - don't miss it!"
Linda & Friends, Scotland - 9 Aug 2008
"Very, very funny, fast paced and cleverly done - people were laughing hysterically and by the end of the show my jaws were aching."
Annie, UK - 6 Aug 2008
"Exceptional impressions and amazing singing voice. Witty and cutting without being overly offensive!!! Go and see!"
Daniela, UK - 5 Aug 2008
"Jon's impressions of Amy Winehouse made me laugh so much, my belly ached and I actually cried...Definitely a show worth seeing."