Waiting For Monarto: Sandi McMenamin

I have a suspicion that Sandi McMenamin is so committed to music and singing, that if you call her, she will accompany you whilst you are singing in the shower! Born into a passionately music focused family who loved nothing more than a sing-along, she went on to 17 years classical training, and has been involved in musical theatre, song writing, rock bands/musicals, school music teaching, choir work and music arranging but notably as a solo act that made her one of Australia's most widely travelled entertainers. In recent times, she also turned her hand to acting in the role of the dozy church organist in A Cheery Soul. McMenamn is also a dedicated and unpaid supporter of Adelaide community musical theatre.

She is a world class act by any standard, a chanteuse, known for her work in piano bars, clubs, and concert halls from England to Egypt, Cyprus to Sweden, Gabon to Greece, Abu Dhabi to Bahrain, Norway to Japan, and Indonesia back to Adelaide in Australia. In 1984, in Cyprus, she entertained UN troops and had her own half hour television programme. She also squeezed in judging a national song contest in Bahrain that year and by 1990, her song, ‘Adelaide You’re a Lady’ was chosen as the Adelaide City Council’s official 150th birthday song. Coincidentally, in late 2010, that song finished as a world-wide song contest Number 7 hit.

In her travels, Sandi became unofficial ambassador for all things South Australian and has not wavered from this in the ensuing years, and this is the strong backbone of the show Waiting for Monarto 60-minute show. Co-author of a musical of the same name, written with colleague and mentor Andrew Murrell, she walks the audience through the history of its development, punctuating this show with clever, original songs, an audience cast nod to the 1970 John Martin’s pageant, and several audience participation-required sing alongs. She is a natural, warm and empathetic entertainer, who despite the hideously crowded space of the Ruby’s venue, made everyone feel comfortable, included and acknowledged. She is, indeed, the mistress of the small-room venue.

I teared up at her 2021 song, ‘Tip Jar of Kindness’ about famous Adelaide café, The Queen of Tarts, that features a ‘pay it forward’ jar for those who are down on their luck, and loved the piano medleys performed with enough panache to make Liberace envious.

Are you a South Australian or a red-blooded Aussie? Do you love great music? Do you enjoy reminiscing? What are you waiting for? There are only 2 more shows!

Jude Hines

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