As a first-time Reuben Kaye viewer, it must be said his reputation precedes him greatly: former Fringe ambassador, leader of the Kaye Hole and cabaret royalty in his own right, I knew this was going to be a show to remember. And for the last night of Fringe, he certainly didn’t disappoint! I was immediately taken by Kaye’s warmth and hospitality. Each guest in his audience is greeted as they enter the Roundhouse, an unexpected and appreciated surprise. Once inside, he took care to make rounds between rows as the band warms up. It makes for an effortless transition into character as the music picks up and he prepares to belt out a fiery tune. Clad in his trademark slinky black attire, Kaye is a force de majeure on the stage and it’s impossible to look away when he holds the mic. A grand maestro of ceremonies, Reuban has more raucous charm and camp energy packed into his lipsticked grin than most of us have in our entire bodies (and those luxurious velvet pants certainly help). Production values are as spectacular as Kaye’s face makeup; the lighting elevates the stage performances to a new height as each musical act is highlighted against a backdrop of astonishing reds. purples and blues. The songs often find Kaye silhouetted against the backlights, casting a shadow over the crowd as he wows us with his vocal range. A filthy joke is never far away as Kaye ad libs between musical acts, with spoken word segments that read like a debaucherous motivational speaking seminar. Hilarious interactions with singled-out audience members add to the fun, and the jokes are often so outrageous he occasionally breaks character and joins the laughter. His comedic timing is nothing short of masterful and no topic is safe from his acerbic wit and sassy social commentary. As delightfully politically incorrect as he is insightful and eloquent, Kaye isn’t afraid to take aim at the intolerances and injustice he’s seen in the world and openly mocks bigotry and intolerance with the same passion he imbues into his art. With nay a dull moment in sight, Live and Intimidating is packed to the brim with top-grade cabaret goodness and theatrical brilliance. A perfectly glamorous way to end the Fringe.