RAW: Fringe
RAW: High School Cabaret – Cab Festival
Jun 23rd
The reality of the ‘world premiere’ of High School Cabaret, featuring creative arts students from Seaview and Norwood Morialta High Schools perhaps did not live up to the hype of the billing. However, after an uneasy start, some real potential stars started to emerge – four in particular stood out.
Year 10 student, Sam Trenwith took to the stage and the microphone with the competence, composure and charisma to suggest we have another highly talented individual in the wings to fully emerge on the local theatrical scene. Beautiful Mel Pal drew attention in her attractive black dress and with increased strength and confidence in her voice has the potential to be a real star in the making. Amongst the many dancers, Tyson Nunn’s crump gyrations, complete with grasped groin, suggested an athlete capable of mixing it in any of the myriad forms of modern dance available. Finally, Sheridan Deslandes dominated proceedings with her various acts but particularly her rendition of Chain of Fools. Her confidence and desire to command her audience was impressive for one just in Year 12 – another Queenie Van de Zandt or even Natalie Cole in the making.
High School Cabaret was an ambitious project. There are so many performers nowadays who can dazzle at the youngest ages and hence one’s expectations of the ‘world premiere’ were set high. However, this town has developed such a reputation for young artists of all kinds – the music industry in particular – that ensuring projects like this get going and offer up opportunities for both the students as well as for audiences to see stars in the making is important, so well done to all involved, especially the two schools and the Cab festival organisers for committing to such a night.
Kryztoff Rating 3K
RAW: Sex & Crime with Fraulein Antje – La Boheme
Jun 20th
Amongst the lush surrounds of La Boheme, the audience settled in as Chris Martin, on upright piano, played a delightfully jazzy introduction and Antje Guenther took to the stage. Guenther will be familiar to Adelaide audiences, having appeared in recent plays with State Theatre Company, but this is her inaugural solo appearance on the Adelaide Cabaret scene.
The audience was taken on a light-hearted expedition through a dozen or so songs fitting under the banner of “Sex & Crime”. These were frequently amusing, with laughs abounding during To Keep My Love Alive, I Got It From Agnes and I Hold Your Hand in Mine, while at other points they explored both the more risqué and serious sides of the theme. Adding to the variety, several of the pieces (as well as a rather amusing story explaining the birds and the bees to young children) were presented in Guenther’s native German.
The quality of the singing varied across songs. Those in the higher register, such as Die Lotusblume and Barbara Song, were more successfully produced while the lower, throatier songs tended to be a little flat. Nerves also appeared to contribute to these issues at some points. Happily, the banter between songs was pleasing and genial – an exhibition of Guenther’s acting talent – and this helped to offset the abovementioned problems. Despite its flaws, this was an agreeable, cheeky and amusing afternoon of entertainment.
Kryztoff Rating 3K
RAW: The Lonely Man By Jamie Jewell – Format Space
Jun 20th
Jamie Jewell is extraordinary in this one-man cabaret show exploring loneliness through abandonment, unrequited love and not fitting in. The Format Space is the ideal venue for this intimate production and together this one man’s isolated yearnings, despairs and hopes draw out his audience’s empathy before its shocking conclusion.
Jewell is a highly skilled and experienced performer with a professional dance and theatre career spanning more than 20 years with credits in productions such as CATS, Moulin Rouge and Le Grand Macabre. This record shows as he most skilfully works his modest props to full effect – dice, scattered playing cards, plants in tins, stuffed toys and the like. Jamie’s singing is strong and his songs span all genres with a particular emphasis on classics – hymns of hope, then of reflected joy and finally anthems of total dismay. The performance is much enhanced by excellent use of light.
This is very different cabaret, more theatre than a jolly sing-a-long or another burlesque excess. At close quarters it makes for a memorable experience. Further shows on June 22, 24 and 26.
Kryztoff Rating 4K
RAW: Stevl Shefn and His Translator Fatima – La Boheme
Jun 18th
This is a comedy show with a difference – the comedian, Stevl Shefn (Steve Sheehan), never utters an understandable word for the hour he’s on stage. Instead, he interacts with the audience in two ways; via his monotone, burka-clad translator Fatima and through the inspired physical comedy present in both his and Fatima’s demeanours.
To refer to this show as “cabaret” is stretching the truth a little; though there are a few song-based interludes, I don’t know that you’d call any of them a musical number. Having said that, it does provide one of the more interesting duets you’ll come across, as well as a chance for you, the audience, to engage in a sing-a-long in a “foreign” language.
Covering subjects as wide ranging as the intricacies of thesis writing, interspecies relationships and rainbow-chasing, you never know which direction the show is going to take next. The beauty of it is in the absurd places it goes and the pace at which it does so.
The material comes close to crossing the line of decency several times but, somehow, the calm no-nonsense voice of Fatima manages to keep it on the right side (just) and make it even funnier. Stevl and Fatima have been around for a few years now, popping up during Fringe Festivals (winning this year’s Adelaide Fringe award for best comedy) and the like, and although those who have seen them before may recognise some of the jokes there is also new material to enjoy.
Kryztoff Rating 4K
RAW: Tim Rogers – Festival Theatre
Jun 17th
Reviewer – Jenna Munday
Superbia, Avaritia, Luxuria, Invidia, Gula, Ira, Aceda. Or, if you don’t understand Latin- Wrath, Greed, Sloth, Pride, Lust, Envy and Gluttony. Yes, they’re the seven cardinal sins, or Saligia, and Tim Rogers was in town recently to explain them all.
Running for three nights as part of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Tim’s show Saligia captivated me for the show’s entirety. Taking us through and singing about the seven deadly sins, Roger’s had the packed out audience in awe. This man can perform. He’s charismatic and funny, making jokes about the fact that he did go to school, football teams and asking that all important question, “why did Big Star close?”
In a show put together especially for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Rogers’ seven piece band, featuring Xani Kolac, Ben Franz, Iain Grandage, Ian Kitney, Shane O’Mara and Melanie Robinson, shone. The stage was filled with candelabras giving a very European feel and humorous and quirky illustrations depicted Rogers’ punishment for committing the sins spoken of.
This show deserves to be performed outside of the three date Adelaide Cabaret Festival. I hope Mr Rogers performs it around Australia because it is a truly wonderful seventy-five minutes of art.
Kryztoff Rating 4K
RAW: Why Muriel Matters – La Boheme
Jun 17th
An interesting piece of cabaret theatre, this tells the story of local woman, Muriel Matters, who left Australia at the beginning of the twentieth century to become an actress in London. After at first progressing in this area, she finds herself drawn to the Suffragette movement, joining the campaign to win voting rights for British women.
Presented primarily as a monologue by Muriel (Teresa De Gannaro) we follow her from the streets of Adelaide to bustling London and then all around the British Isles as she takes the message to the people. The storyline is interspersed with various songs; of the time as well as new compositions by writer Sheila Duncan.
De Gannaro does well in the role, embodying Muriel with a likable enthusiasm for life and social change. Her performance is not flawless – some lines were stumbled over – but she has a fantastic singing voice and a vitality that makes up for this. Ably supporting her is Carol Young, providing piano accompaniment and pleasing harmonies in several songs. She also inhabits the other citizens in the story, moving seamlessly from one character to another.
This show is, essentially, a history lesson, but one that is pleasurable and appealing. Despite her being Adelaide born and bred and having played such an important role in history, few people will have heard of Muriel. This piece offers a brief overview of her life, which informs the audience about this remarkable woman and why she matters.
Kryztoff Rating 4K
RAW: A Norah Jones Tribute @ The Promethean
Jun 16th
Following on from a sellout season at the Adelaide Fringe, Georgie Aue presents music of acclaimed singer/songwriter Norah Jones.
Focusing on Jones debut album “Come Away With Me” the Georgie Aue Quartet comes out very energetic in the second half of the show. The quartet performs a number of songs written by Georgie Aue after the Adelaide Fringe season herself which where greatly influenced by Norah Jones.
The quartet includes Locky Ridge on guitar, John Aue on double bass and Jamie Jones on percussion.
Two more shows on Sat 19th and 26th.
Kryztoff Rating: 3.5K
RAW: Lady Sings the Blues @ The Promethean
Jun 16th
After a successfull season at the Adelaide Fringe Sidonie Henbest brings us Lady Sings the Blues. Again well accompanied by Mathew Carey. This time also accompanied with some great work on the double bass by Alana Dawes.
A great variety of songs are performed to an eager audience, including Come Rain or Come Shine, Nobody Knows You When Your Down and Out, Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered and I’ll Get Along Without You Very Well.
The seconed half achieved a great level of energy to the delight of the audience. It’s a pleasure listening to artists, such as Henbest perform who realy enjoy what they are doing.
Kryztoff Rating: 3.5K
Peaches n Gin Nexus 12 June
Jun 14th
Posted by MonikaS in Uncategorized
Peaches n Gin are the newest ladies in the Adelaide burlesque revival. Peaches n Gin feature Luna Eclipse and Sapphire Snow and supporting dancers in a smorgasboard of traditional burlesque, swing, belly dance and modern interpretative. An entertaining two hours had the full house at Nexus roaring and whistling, with eager audience participation. Highlights included original costumes, a tightly run pace overseen by MC Kara and a variety of song and sauce. Enjoy the frivolity!
RAW: Lanie Lane presents Betty Baby & the Blues of a Bygone Era – Festival Centre
Jun 13th
Lanie Lane’s musical style – an eclectic mix of old style blues and modern fashions – is matched in her physical appearance; emerging in a short 1950s style dress, complimented by sparkly black leggings, and with coiffed hair she presented an interesting blend of old and new.
Lane credits her guitar, Betty Baby, as her long time song-writing partner and, following a small hitch with the amplifier which rendered Betty mute for the first track, together they played a set of both original songs and covers. Adding a fuller sound to the evening were Paul Derricott on drums, David Symes on bass and Jared Masters on grand piano. Together they made a pleasing overall sound.
One of the more interesting covers of the show was her interpretation of Britney Spears’ Toxicity, the rearrangement of which was pleasantly unrecognisable. A harmonica, hanging around Lane’s neck, appeared to be for aesthetic purposes only but eventually got a play during Hoochie Coochie Man; one of the crowd favourites. The final track, What Am I To Do, was an audience sing-a-long number, with many still humming it as they left.
While Lane, and the group as a whole, were musically right on the money, and the applause was quick coming for each song, the banter in between was somewhat lacking. Lane’s fey, innocent little girl persona became a little grating and more could have been made of the song introductions to make the show into more of a cabaret experience.
Kryztoff Rating 3.5K