Diamonds and Dust at the Emerald Theatre
Diamonds and Dust is a larger-than-life jukebox musical featuring burlesque, striptease, gasp-out-loud aerial feats, and a dose of old Western history. It is loosely based on the true story of Miss Kitty LeRoy (Faye Tozer), a dancer, faro dealer, and owner of The Mint, a gambling den in Deadwood, South Dakota. For a while, Kitty’s luck seemed strong and life was good, but Lady Luck (personified by Dita Von Teese) flirts but never marries, and can withdraw her favour at any time.
Tozer plays Kitty as a confident, personable narrator who makes the audience nervous when she snakes through the chairs looking for a rich husband, but her character’s underlying vulnerability and sweetness shine through, especially towards the end of the second act. Kitty is re-imagined as an icon here, a woman comfortable in her sexuality who travelled with the stars of the Wild West era. She took on a man’s world and ran it for a while, but she also had a hard, dangerous life, and that isn’t ignored. The result is a multi-layered, identifiable character whom you feel for, while also enjoying her wicked streak.
This is a jukebox-style show, which combines well-chosen songs like Dangerous Girl by Lana Del Rey, Lee Hazlewood’s Summer Wine, and Bang Bang He Shot Me Down by Cher, which help tell the story while celebrating the art of rich performance styles. The music accompanies sometimes kinky, often acrobatic, but always captivating dance numbers. The acrobatics and aerial displays, blending circus with showgirl, are gasp-out-loud impressive. Most of the dances have a strip-tease element, and it is wonderful to see women who seem so proud and confident in their own skin. Every reveal is joyful, and it is an incredibly empowering thing to see.
The costumes, featuring categories like showgirl realness, pin-up fantasy, burlesque extravaganza, nuns-turned-naughty, and cowboy meets Magic Mike, are just perfect. Von Teese isn’t the most dynamic of the performers, but she captivates the audience with her sheer confidence and love for her own body. You can feel her touch in every costume or set choice, and her overall vision is executed incredibly well.
Diamonds and Dust is wonderfully fun, and it also tells a real, coherent story that is heightened by the other elements rather than diminished by them. Diamonds and Dust is a celebration of the camp, the colourful and the kinky. It is a work of art that will strut around your mind for days after.
Sophia Moss
Photos: Chris Davis
Diamonds and Dust is at Emerald Theatre until 30th September 2025. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.
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