Reviews

It’s just after lunch on a Sunday, and a couple of hundred of us are sitting at cabaret tables in front of six glasses of wine. Each. Admittedly, the glasses aren’t full, but still, this is going to be an interesting review for a cabaret show. And this reviewer does like his wine…

Devotees of Aretha Franklin were rocking in their seats and one fan got up in the aisle to give a demonstration of the funkiest way to jive. The Concert Hall swayed and swooned with gospel like adulation.

It was a glittering night on Sydney Harbour, where everything was twinkling for the last night of Vivid, and in an exquisite piece of timing, the 1000 drone light display commenced during the interval break.

The characters and plot in this musical are inspired loosely by William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, whilst the music consists of 24 songs from the Elvis Presley catalogue.  It seems like a strange combination, but it works surprisingly well! 

Galah might look like chaos, but every moment, every move is planned, thought out and deliberate – dance moves, clown routines, costumes and the intricate lighting plot.  This includes the show grinding to a halt after one o-so-sad song (‘Where is my Heart?  Where is my Life?’) and some anarchic and despairing destruction by Elizabeth Dawson-Smith – or Miss Friby, if you prefer – and Louise Purcell, who has burst onto the stage as if shot from a cannon.