Adelaide Tonight

A testament to the love of these performers and nostalgia was immediately evident from the packed audience at the Space Theatre for Adelaide Tonight.

Hosted by Bob Downe and Anne “Willsy” Wills, the audience were treated to a trip down memory lane and cabaret variety show for an hour. Audience enthusiasm and participation was high - sparked initially by the old black and white tv commercials playing on the big screen. These immediately took us back to simpler times where Bert Newton, Patti Newton, Lorrae Desmond and of course Willsy herself, graced our sets. A wonderful old Ken Eustice commercial for Datsun took me back - watching Willsy deftly dancing and singing between cars.

Bob Downe is the alter ego of Mark Trevorrow, and is a much loved character. Mark himself is a talented performer of television and stage, but it is “Bob” with whom audiences are probably most familiar. The self-confessed “Prince of Polyester” is well known in Australia - particularly in his hosting of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. He is a true showman - great one-liners and a wardrobe to rival the Kardashians. Tacky, corny jokes ensue amid fabulously flamboyant singing and dancing. He is a sheer delight to watch.

Willsy is an Adelaide icon. Boasting a 56 year career in show business, she has been the absolute Queen of television; co-hosting with Ernie Sigley ‘Adelaide Tonight’ on which this show is based and many more television highlights. An absolute delight was seeing old footage of Anne and her sister Sue entertaining the troops in Vietnam. What a gem she is!

The show opens with a wonderfully tight four-piece band accompanying the pair in a very sparkly duet of “Just the Two of Us”. Willsy’s trademark gigantic earrings shone as did Downe’s gold wig - thank goodness there was no mirror ball as we wouldn’t have been able to see!

We travel down memory lane again on the screen to a duet by the Willsy and Sue of “Among my Souvenirs”. Dressed in masses of white feathers and sparkles, the ladies nailed it (despite being affectionately referred to as a couple of old chooks).

The show then takes a sharp turn with the comic stylings of Fabian Clarke. His antics on being the father who receives ‘craft- made’ gifts from his children were hilarious and everyone in the audience could relate. He went on to also talk about dance recitals and the horror of the “IKEA- pack costumes” and sitting through “seventy-six hours of performances”. He was very funny and a light break from the musical elements.

Following soon after we are treated to a wonderful samba-style rendition of “When Doves Cry” by Pastel Vespa. This lady has wonderful stage presence and the follow up duet with Downe of “Sergio Mendez doing the Beatles” (to quote Downe) was energetic and fun - most unusual version of “Paperback Writer” I’ve ever heard, complete with go go dancing (You had to be there)!

We were then treated to vision of Willsy performing from the opening of the Festival Theatre, fifty years ago, which was a wonderful break, allowing Willsy to reappear in a very raunchy lingerie outfit. Her rendition of “I’m Tired”, made famous by Madeline Kahn in Blazing Saddles was fabulous - the epitome of Dietrich. A highlight for this reviewer.

Another surprise turn was the appearance of Adelaide’s much-loved Hans, who delivered a fabulous medley of Aussie icon songs but as a German polka. This was wonderfully received by the audience who joined in singing, which was noted by Hans to sound like “Rock Hillsong”- very funny. Some songs given a Germanic twist were “Treaty”, “Beds are Burning” and “What About Me”.

Bob Downe’s banter throughout the night was charming and funny. The audience absolutely guffawed as he reeled off the names of family members for example, “Ida” and “Mark” (who works in retail) - think about it.

The show ends with the whole cast on stage singing “Happy Together”. Very appropriate as the audience by this stage was extremely happy and didn’t want them to leave.

This is a wonderful example of a show woven together by home grown talent. It is gentle fun, paying tribute to television and humour of a by-gone era. A pair of comfortable slippers and a cup of tea in front of the telly-type joy but with enormous amounts of sparkle.

Shelley Hampton

Photographer: Claudio Raschella