Voila Theatre Festival 2025: La Bella Bimba at Barons Court Theatre
In a small theatre space under the Curtain’s Up pub in Barons Court, two sisters share their story. Leaving Italy for New York, with dreams of becoming Broadway stars, the girls sing, dance, and act out their tale.
Both lead performers, Lucrezi Galeone (Carlotta) and Sarah Silvestri (Cecilia), are strong comedic actresses whose jokes feel effortless and smooth. The performance is at its strongest when it leans into this comedic tone – at times, the singing and dancing seem to be taken slightly too seriously, without, perhaps, the depth of training needed to support the style.
The show also seems to have missed the mark when it comes to telling the story of the Italian diaspora in New York. The language barrier between Carlotta, Cecilia, and the audience is utilised to find friction and comedy during audience interactions, which provides palatable commentary on the immigrant experience. However, for the majority of the night, the difficulty that the girls must have overcome to travel from Italy to the USA is pushed into a corner, in favour of farcical songs that don’t seem to address anything of substance. The sisters’ struggles would have been much easier to connect with if they were explored more.
Cabaret is an art form with a rich history. Watching a piece of work set in 1920s New York that calls itself “Vaudeville” but lacks any sort of references or historical context feels hollow. The vague gestures towards Vaudevillian Broadway shows, in both content and costuming, make the context of the La Bella Bimba difficult to understand, leaving the performance feeling unanchored.
It must be said that La Bella Bimba is clean and well-rehearsed. Both leading ladies bring energy and commitment to their performances, and the band are polished, adding to the comedy of the show where appropriate. In particular, pianist Michele Maria Benvenuto stands out for both his musicality and comedic prowess.
If physical comedy and audience interaction give you your thrills, La Bella Bimba may be an entertaining evening. However, for any cabaret fanatics, this production is likely to fall short.
Emilia Gould
Photos: Isadora Baccon
La Bella Bimba is at Barons Court Theatre until 23rd November 2025. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.
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