A black hole is a place where gravity pulls so much that even light can’t get out. The same effect can be observed by being subjected to the raw magnetism of Reuben Kaye. And just like in space, weird things can creep out of the Kaye Hole, the unbuttoned late-night variety show.
Reuben Kaye is well on his way to intergalactic stardom
Even before the show, Reuben Kaye is greeting, hugging and posing at the door, welcoming each and every one of us home. Kaye is outright disarming and utterly charming, and all I can think of is: God he’s tall. Kaye is the absolute show-stopper dripping with raw sexuality – both male and female – that is unique to the cabaret circuit. Or in his own words, just like Cruella de Vil if she competed in shotput.
There are two sides to Reuben Kaye, the devilish, foulmouthed and dangerous Mr Hyde, and Dr Jekyll, who wants to save the world – and conquer it, of course. When Covid hit, Kaye was one of the first cabaret stars to start making reassuring – albeit wine-induced – social media videos to entertain lockdown-stricken fans. Just in case you think his character lacks depth, you should check out his TED Talk. He is also vocal about educating children on queerness and learning to embrace variety.
From the moment Kaye blazed on stage, it was clear that The Kaye Hole was going to be an electrifying extravaganza. Reuben's energy was as infectious as ever, and his larger-than-life personality filled everyone with excitement. Announcing the room a safe place for dangerous people, tucked carelessly in a skin-tight, butt-revealing dress, Kaye belted out the opening number followed up by a rollercoaster of emotions only he knows how to deliver. From British politics to being harassed by bigoted religious groups, Kaye’s sharp tongue kept us in stiches.
On the opening night the first guest act was Jarret Dewey from Party Ghost with a graceful aerial acrobatics number. Next, we were treated to the steaming hot Nathan Knowles from Circa, who gave Magic Mike a run for his money by delivering pizza mouth to mouth. Sikisa proved to be a witty stand-up comedian, immigration layer and an energetic burlesque performer showcasing her multiple assets. A local talent David Colvin delivered a great musical number was performed by commanding his bagpipes into an impressive Thunderstruck.
Just when you thought you couldn’t gravitate any further into the abyss, the final act blew the socket. I’m not a big fan of hula hoop acts, as they tend to be a bit tedious, but this was unlike nothing I’ve ever seen. Tara Boom’s performance was a fabulously filthy encore number, spinning her hoops stark naked, with a head mounted popcorn machine, smeared in butter, sprinkling salt from down under and spilling popcorn everywhere and causing absolute mayhem and delight. There was simply nowhere to go from there.
Reuben Kaye’s larger than life presence made The Kaye Hole much more than a mundane cabaret show; a celebration of art, acceptance and self-expression. Kaye dared us to continue to see art from people that don’t look like us and don’t think like us. The only problem with black holes is that everything else is in danger of being sucked into them, even the guest acts. Reuben Kaye's captivating presence, impeccable talent and genuine connection with the audience makes him impossible to outstage. In space, black holes only appear when a star is dying, but this one is just getting warmed up. Reuben Kaye is well on his way to intergalactic stardom. Bless him.
