Melbourne Cabaret Festival Gala

Melbourne Cabaret Festival Gala
Chapel off Chapel – July 12th 2012. Festival runs from 12th -22nd July – Various venues.

Repeat after me…..Sammy J- Yay, Yay, Yay. Sammy J was the guest MC for the Gala Opening of this year’s Cabaret Festival and almost stole the show, until The Fabulous Singlettes, returning from Berlin to headline the festival, put him back in his lead-lined box so that his energy was contained. There is a reason the Singlettes have been adopted by Berlin and are huge stars on the European cabaret circuit. They are bloody good at what they do. Exemplary harmonies, larrikin comedy, high voltage energy – that’s what cabaret is about.

What a contrast to the opening act – Sheilas of the Seventies. A truly amateurish version of Cabaret opened the proceedings (how original!) followed by some average Fleetwood Mac covers. This was not a great introduction to a Gala night. Cabaret has always been about the theatrical – so perhaps Rebecca Barnard could have managed some lippy, mascara, and something resembling a costume. (yes, we heard how she just flew in from Paris, but perhaps a little ingenuity to change in the back of the taxi?).

Fortunately the night got better – it had to! Highlights were Brecht: Bilbao and Beyond – a charming homage to the cabaret of the 40s by two seasoned professionals; Sammy J; Megan Storey – sensational voice and piano playing with wonderful humour about how our “Undies” define us; Sammy J; Candice McQueen…a “Nasty” drag queen, extremely funny and with sensational young guitarist Robert Tropolino accompanying her. But oh dear, the hairy legs (tights please) and un-pressed skirt took the edge off professionalism; Sammy J! Gepetto was plagued by technical problems but promises to be an interesting offering, and Anthony Costanzo brought his sensational voice to his original songs. Oh, and did I mention Sammy J? Even minus purple puppet mate Randy, he is funny, endearing, clever, irreverent and a pocket rocket. He may have lost the bout to the Fabulous Singlettes – but it took three of them to beat him.

You can find the whole programme on http://melbournecabaret.com/ - and I wish we had seen the legendary Sheila Bradley, a star before most of the current crop of performers was born. Choose a show and a venue and jump right in – Cabaret is alive and well.

PS. Sammy J is not actually part of the Cabaret Festival – more’s the pity.

Coral Drouyn

Images: Anthony Constanzo and Brecht: Bilbao and Beyond

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