His performance is heavenly but beyond that is where our enthusiasm falters slightly. Said to be inspired by the classic Bette Davis movie All About Eve, it barely references it. Other than Desmond sharing Margot Channing surname and his character becoming obsessed “all about Evan”, there is little to compare. Evan is no pretend ingénue who plots and schemes to take the Channing stardom.
Other classic movies are tangentially referenced (Gone With The Wind, Mildred Pierce) like a starter kit Ryan Murphy. In fact, the only point where the show embraces that golden era filmmaking is when Desmond takes his final revenge on his perceived nemesis. Diva suddenly stops being a musical for a section and riffs somewhat on the opening of Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? (The car bit, not I’ve Written A Letter to Daddy).
The book far more takes its feel from films the likes of Mean Girls or Heathers. Into the mix, Diva Live From Hell throws in a whole other realm of reference points: the world of American musical theatre. While namechecks of Betty Buckley, Ethel Merman and Patti Lupone might be known to most potential audience members, the fact the programme has a glossary for the un-theatrical explaining references to Joe Papp and the Flower Drum Song pushes Diva towards a far more niche market. Shoshana Bean joke, anyone?
The show’s humour takes a similarly scattergun approach. There is an unnecessary, glib joke about Jeffrey Epstein at the top of the show which sours proceedings from the off. It’s an update of a tasteless joke in previous productions but their replacement feel far too soon. What does work, and feels more like the kind of show its title suggests, is when Desmond, dethroned from the Presidency, unleashes an almighty torrent of insults on his fellow classmates. The library is open and everyone is read! This is the diva behaviour we have come to see.
One thing a diva needs is an audience. What’s the point in gloriously bad behaviour if there’s no-one there to gasp at it? The Seventh Circle was decidedly underpopulated last night. With just one cabaret table filled, Bayer has less to interact with. With a packed house, his diva certainly has the energy and the voice to deliver a wickedly entertaining evening.