Lucky: Songs by Kylie

Michael Griffiths is no stranger to cabaret, having won the prestigious Helpmann Award last year as Best Cabaret Performer. He has toured his shows based on Madonna, Annie Lennox, Cole Porter and now Kylie MinoguewithLucky: Songs by Kylie.

Ever the consummate professional, in 65 minutes he guides us through Kylie’s life from her early days in Neighbours to her recovery from breast cancer and ability to endure through adversity.

Griffiths ‘becomes’ Kylie and narrates/sings the show through her eyes. This may seem a little strange to start with, but Michael’s ability to connect with the audience soon has us laughing and sharing a tear with the pop princess herself.

Of course no pop princess becomes a celebrity alone, and Griffiths as Kylie makes the most of her early days in Neighbours, particularly her TV marriage, her only marriage, to Jason Donovan. While realising the effect their friendship had on her career, Griffiths is quick to parallel their resulting careers and personal lives. Craig McLachlan also receives his fair share of digs, especially his efforts to attract Kylie’s attention.

Griffiths then moves on to Kylie’s great love Michael Hutchence. The mood becomes poignant, with blue lighting and a love song to the man she loved and lost to drugs. ‘I Just Can’t Get You Out of My Head’takes on a new meaning when applied to this pivotal moment in her life.

Kylie’s career at this stage may have taken a dive, but as Griffiths rightly says, Kylie never gave up and entered her disco phase. Complete with a disco ball that lit up The Space Theatre, Griffiths gives us a brilliant rendition of ‘Spinning Around’ to well-deserved applause.

We then move to the 2000 Olympics and Kylie’s entrance in the closing ceremony on a thong, singing Dancing Queen. In my opinion, Griffiths sings this number better than Abba.

Suddenly all the glitz and glamour disappear and Kylie must face breast cancer. Griffiths really hits home the truth that all cancer patients must face – slow down, take stock of your life and ‘Breathe’.

Lastly, we are given a glimpse into Kylie, the performer, the woman, the pop princess, the lover and the summation of her life so far. As Kylie says and Griffiths sings, ‘I Wouldn’t Change a Thing’.

It is a night of celebration, fun and some very tender moments but Griffiths (as good as he is) cannot do this alone. He is backed by an incredibly talented 4-piece band, ably led by James Simpson, a name to remember.

I loved the audience participation section of the show, and what cabaret fan does not love a bit of audience participation? A member of the audience is asked to be Jason Donovan to Michael’s Kylie. What song do you ask? You will have to see the show, I cannot give this gem away.

Another clever invention is ‘Kylie’s secrets’. We, the audience are asked to write down a secret to tell Kylie and Griffiths skilfully works them into his musical numbers with hysterical results.

Of course, such an enjoyable night with Kylie could not finish without encores and what better than ‘Locomotion’ and ‘Better the Devil You Know’, performed with incredible energy that had the audience on their feet.

What impressed me the most about Lucky: Songs by Kylie is the showmanship of Griffith’s work. He is able to capture the audience and hold them in the palm of his hand. He is a master of cabaret, soaring top notes, incredible energy, clever banter and musicianship. There was the odd ‘brain fart’ as Griffiths calls them, but on the second night of this new show this was totally forgivable and well covered.

It is a wonderful night of theatre even if you aren’t a Kylie fan, although I refuse to believe there is such a thing.

Barry Hill

Photographer: Kurt Sneddon