Yellow Fever

Kelly Lim Harris wants to find love, but it appears that all the men whom she dates have been struck with Yellow Fever, not the acute viral hemorrhagic disease found in parts of Africa and South America, but Asian fetishization and obsession with women of East and Southeast Asian descent.

Kelly, who was born in New Zealand to a father of British origins and a Chinese Malaysian mother, has completed a degree in opera, and a Diploma of Music Theatre from WAAPA, and now lives in Perth. Her cabaret, examining the experiences of young Asian women growing up in Western countries, includes original songs that are beautifully sung, and show off Kelly’s gorgeous classically trained voice. The stories are beautifully told and talk of dating and navigating the world of performing and vary from the hilariously funny to shocking and sad.

The set embraces Asian culture, decorated with lanterns, parasols, orchids and (notably for the music theatre tragics) Chinese vocal tea. Kelly is dressed in a stunning, short, black sequined cheongsam or qipao, paired with a happy coat in a warm Chinese red, paired incongruously with shiny black Doc Martin boots. She looks fantastic on stage and has the talent to back it up. Kelly is also wonderfully likable, so the show feels a bit like a chat with a friend (who happens to break into glories song from time to time).

This is an amazing first cabaret, from a performer who had the audience in the palm of her hand from go to woah. I look forward to seeing Kelly Lim Harris on stage again soon.

Kimberley Shaw

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