Cambridge University Musical Theatre Society’s Burlesque! is an outrageous and delightful series of song and dance numbers, shot through with a good dose of humour and more than a touch of the grotesque.

The show began with a solo rendition of a doleful ballad, and a black-clad funeral cortege appeared to pay tribute to the recently deceased. The audience sat in uncomfortable silence as an eerie tumult of animal-like moans filled the room. A tombstone bore the name of the departed: taste. As the howls of grief mounted to a crescendo, the mourning weeds were discarded to reveal the trademark costumes of burlesque: heels, corsets and garters in leather and satin, adorned to the greatest imaginable extreme with frills and lace.

This signalled a rapid succession of musical numbers. Time flew by and the energy never flagged. The narratives were rarely clear – there was something splendid about woodland creatures and hula-hoops, something bizarre about a granny whose knitting undressed a young woman, and something a little lacklustre about sexy nurses and pyjama stripteases – but the showmanship and charisma didn't disappoint. The musical theatre background of the actors was hard to miss: the singing and playing were invariably excellent.

Jonathan Beilby compered the acts with a spectacular number of costume changes and a running monologue of dirty jokes that managed, on the whole, to be very funny, though sometimes ventured into the merely disgusting.

Clare Cellars made a fabulous, atmospheric venue for the show. The performers made excellent use of the space, striding to and fro on their sky-high heels. Spectators were gathered around half a dozen tables, and the intimate setting allowed the actors to interact with their audience, chatting or inviting them to join the dancing. Yours truly was asked the rather delightful question, “Is that your head, darling, or did your neck just throw up?” At least we know CUMTS has too much integrity to flatter the press.

The one disadvantage was that the pillars in the cellars occasionally blocked the view of the actors. The numbers would have been rather more exotic and otherworldly if they had not been accompanied by a chorus of craning necks. Nonetheless, with as many garters, songs, and ventures into the bizarre as any fan of the genre could desire, CUMTS’ Burlesque! is great fun, and not to be missed.

Burlesque! will be at Clare Cellars until November 23.