Review: ADELAIDE CABARET FRINGE: OPENING GALA WEEKEND Heats Up The Winter

Reviewed by Barry Lenny, Friday 3rd June 2016

There is still a week before the start of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, but the Adelaide Cabaret Fringe is in full swing, with the Opening Gala Weekend, spread over three nights, each presenting a range of artists from Adelaide and interstate who will be performing during the season, kicking it off in style.

The first night of the Gala was hosted by Adelaide's own national and international cabaret favourite, Amelia Ryan, wearing her little black dress. Well, yes, it was a much sequined little black dress, befitting a glittering cabaret event. Ryan is one of the most glamorous cabaret artists around town and this was no exception. As well as acting as the Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening she added plenty of snappy patter and a few of her own comical numbers, penned for the occasion.

Accompanying her on piano, as well as being the opening and closing act of the Gala with items from her own two shows, was Jennifer Kingswell. Her shows are The Lotus Eaters: A Chamber Cabaret, in which she is joined by the Aurora Quartet, and The Glitter and Doom Salon, featuring the music of Tom Waits, in which she also introduces other singers appearing in the Cabaret Fringe. She has a great voice and plays a mean piano so grab some tickets.

One half of the duo of magicians in Auslusion: Top Hats and Tails, Scott Stunz, combined comedy with sleight of hand. He is joined in their shows by Jace Wonders. He had the audience in fits of laughter wit his comic antics wrapped around his very fine manipulations. Everybody loves magicians, so add this to your list.

A Case of You: the music of Joni Mitchell, features vocalist, Deborah Brennan, accompanied by Max Garcia-Underwood, Max Ziliotto, and Louis Cann. Her interpretations are superb and any fan of Jodi Mitchell will want to see this. If you don't know Mitchell's work, then you should, and now you can.

For something smooth and sophisticated, there was Deborah Caddy, with an excerpt from her show, Have You Met Miss Jones, in which she creates the character of a seamstress, Miss Jones, who works for many of the stars of the past, and remembers them in songs by Rogers and Hart, drawn from the Great American Songbook. She is accompanied on piano by Emma Knights, a prolific producer of musical soirees. This is another show that will appeal to everybody.

Closing the first half and opening the second half was Jessica McKerlie, with items from her show, Gender Spanner. This is one that will entertain, and then make you think about all that you saw and heard. Before the interval she performs a striptease with a difference, escaping from a straightjacket to begin the routine. You will understand the symbolism in this when you see the show, as indeed you should. After the interval she accompanies herself on ukulele in a couple of her own humorous songs, full of laughs, but with underlying meaning. Don't miss it.

La Boheme, as everybody in Adelaide knows, is the year round centre for cabaret in Adelaide and the home of the Cabaret Fringe, as well as offering a wide range of other marvellous entertainment. It has a great group of people behind the bar who can provide you with anything from a beer to the most elaborate cocktails, and even imported French Champagnes, so every time you go to see a show you can turn it into a celebration of cabaret with your favourite tipple. It is all under way now, so get out there and have fun.

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