FRINGE CABARET – Gobsmacked – Black Box Theatre – Noel Lothian Hall, Adelaide Botanic Garden 4K

By Fiona Talbot – Leigh

 If you are passionate about musical theatre, then Gobsmacked is the show to see this Fringe season. Nikki Aitken and Jamie Burgess have come together to write and perform this hilarious show and the results are just fabulous.

The two have been friends for years; bonding over their shared love of music. Both consummate performers in their own right, Aitken and Burgess share the spotlight equally, giving each other the chance to shine.

Burgess began the show with a tongue in cheek nod to the musical ‘Cats’, complete with a mask. Without even singing a note, he commanded a certain presence before launching into song.  With gorgeous chiselled features, Burgess performed each song to perfection with his own personal style. His voice along with his keyboard skills were such an asset to the show.

Dazzling in a sparkly blue dress, from the moment she entered the space, Aitken had full command of the room. Her energy infectious, her acting sublime and her voice, just amazing. Add to this her fabulous sense of comic timing and hilarious script, makes this a very fun show to watch.

Aitken is a force to be reckoned with, her vocals are gutsy, rich and raw and her character acting is just brilliant. Aitken has such an expressive face and her ability to move from one persona to another is simply a joy to watch. The show’s lighting and sound run by Yolandi Bester on the day, helped each scene to flow fluently and seamlessly, making the 60 minutes just fly by.

This show has been very cleverly written; most of the songs by Burgess with a very funny hangover song written by Aitken who drew on her own life experiences for the show’s content! This show is about love, life and the pursuit of happiness.

Both Aitken and Burgess are very professional and well-rounded performers and there is a wonderful rapport between the two. Their ability to connect with the audience just added to the overall experience. Gobmacked is original music comedy at its best, performed with high energy from start to finish. This is a great show to see at this Adelaide’s Fringe.

4K

Leave a Reply