Y: A Musical Cabaret

Y: A Musical Cabaret was a musical review starring quick-change artist Arturo Brachetti which ran at the Piccadilly Theatre from 27 June 1983 to 28 July 1984. The show was set in the style of a Paris cabaret complete with topless acts, illusion, visual effects, dancing and song.

Development
The show started as "I"' and was scheduled to preview on 16 March 1983 as the most expensive show ever mounted in the West End, but was withdrawn the night before. It had been due to open on 22 March 1983. After substantial rewrites and development, the show reopened as "Y" and ran for over a year.

The Piccadilly Theatre was remodelled to accommodate kitchens for audience members in the stalls where the seats were replaced by dining tables. Some of the waiting staff would also participate in selected moments of the show. A three-course meal and the show was £25 in the stalls and a buffet in the Royal Circle was £10.00-£12.50.

Public perception
Reviews were mixed for the show. Martin Walker of The Guardian wrote:

"Y is so luridly and brashly vulgar that it tramples aside any quibbles about taste or artistic fitness or the lunatic profligacy that spent a reputed £2 million to bring this Parisian cabaret to the London stage"

John Barber in The Daily Telegraph wrote:

"Late nighters will welcome an attractive new theatre restaurant in London and will find "Y" slick and showy enough to make late" Talk of The Town" revues look pretty antediluvian".

Robert Cushman in The Observer wrote:

"Y the long cursed spectacular that has finally opened at the Piccadilly, now transformed into a rather taking dinner-theatre, complete with performing waiters"

Francis King in The Sunday Telegraph observed:

"Unfortunately, the performers spend much of their time miming, like drag artists on an off-night at the Vauxhall Tavern, to deafening tapes"

Marketing
Y opened for previews on June 9, 1983, the day of the General Election and this was used in the initial marketing of the show.

On Independence Day, July 4, 1983, a free bottle of champagne was offered to any Americans who could show their passport.

New Year's Eve 1983 was marketed as a "Fancy Dress Ball with Russian Extravaganza". A special "Ballet Russes" number was written and performed especially for the evening performance. The theatre was licensed until 3am and breakfast was served until 4am on New Year's Day

Closure
On Friday July 13, 1984, it was reported that Y was to close, "the most expensive theatrical show ever seen in London". Y closed two weeks later with losses of £4.75M.