When Julian Clary walks on to the Assembly Hall Theatre stage in Tunbridge Wells dressed extravagantly in a brightly coloured, custom made Wild West costume, complete with cleverly placed large buffalo horns, you already know what sort of a night you’re in for. In fact, just upon entering the theatre, the backdrop of a phallic looking cactus and glitter clad microphone stand might well give it away too.

Clary really is the master of camp and his new show ‘A Fistful of Clary’ is exactly what the audience expect and want. It’s an array of smutty comedy tied together with heaps of audience participation and a few touching & sincere moments thrown in too.

There is no support act so Clary glides majestically on to the stage, taking his applause and unleashing his razor sharp wit straightaway. He gives his frank judgement on many audience members fashion and releases hilarious insults at lightning pace. “You’ve had your roots died brown”, one poor female spectator is told whilst a frizzy haired lady is asked if she had been plugged into the National Grid.

The first act is a 50 minute stand up set complete with silly songs and anecdotes & Clary’s experience and confidence is a joy to watch. He can turn the packed auditorium from belly laughing tears of joy to thought-provoking moments of reflection and sadness, especially with a fitting tribute to his late, good friend Paul O’Grady. There’s a hysterical closing of the act song regarding knobs of butter too which is a true masterpiece, delivered in Clary’s typically lightly-spoken, slightly tuneless, manner.

There’s a modest Wild West theme throughout and Act 2 sees members of the audience chosen at random to take part in a brand new cowboy movie, obviously written by Julian himself. He weaves in and out of the audience selecting unwilling members to dress up and play lavish characters in his own camp production. It’s joyful to watch and Clary handles the chosen candidates with ease, masterfully holding it all together.

The evening is brought to a close with a heartfelt song saying simply ‘It’s OK To Be Gay’. Genuine and from the heart, Clary nails it truthfully and respectfully.

It’s only the fourth date of the tour so moments will get slicker, the first act Clary still referring to notes fixed on the stage, but it’s a triumphant piece from a true showman and unique master of his craft. Long may he continue!

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