Ballet: Frock Trock shock

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

Peacock Theatre, Kingsway, London WC2 (0171-314 8800) to 28 Sept

Crisp white tutus, shimmering satin pointe shoes and enough chest hair to stuff a wonderbra, the Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo began their two-week season at London's Peacock Theatre last night. But you knew that. The Trocks (as you must swiftly learn to call them) have arrived just in time to feed a media hungry for something light and saucy to alleviate the national gloom. Hype? Hardly. The Trocks have perfected a formula that appeals to practically everybody. Ballet lovers giggle guiltily at the careful parody. Ballet haters (can such people really exist?) laugh like drains as the drag queens pirouette and fall over. At last month's sell-out season in New York sophisticated dancegoers were crying into their San Pellegrino at the bogus ballerinas.

Sharing the joke at The Peacock tonight will be a round-up of the usual suspects culled from Celebrity Lists A and B. The A list will be led by the grandes dames of the company itself: Dame Margaret Lowyn-Octeyn and Ida Nevasayneva. These divas will be partying with the, er, cream of London society - everyone from Boy George to Lynn Seymour - which all promises to create an unusual but tasty social salad. The Royal Ballet will make a state visit in the shape of Leanne Benjamin and Darcey Bussell (whom the Trocks all adore). Lesser beings are planning to cancel the openings of various envelopes in order to attend. Any ladies of a suitable build keen to blag their way into the cast party should note that mistress of disguise, Kylie Minogue, has yet to confirm...