BWW Reviews: ADELAIDE FRINGE 2014: WHO'S AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD WOLF? WOMEN WRITE SONGS TOO Will Take You Into The Woods in Song and Humour

Reviewed Friday 28th February 2014

Little Red Riding Hood can be heard singing in the distance before she appears, coming through the trees. The last thing that she was expecting to find in the woods was a group of people, lost in a clearing, conveniently provided with a bar and plenty of tables and chairs. Adelaide's popular wine and entertainment bar, La Bohème, is briefly turned into a fairy tale world for Who's Afraid of The Big Bad Wolf? Women Write Songs Too.

Admitting that she is not so little anymore, Red overcomes her awkwardness at meeting a crowd of people, when she thought that she would meet a wolf, and confirms that she is on her way to her Grandmother's house. Although her Grandmother gets very little mention in the story, she is, Red explains, a very interesting woman who once left the forest to spend time in the real world, where she accumulated vast quantities of sheet music that documents her life and Red has selected a few to celebrate Grandma's life.

Brigitte Baden-Rennie, as Red, presents a collection of songs written by women, some famous, some obscure, with a general theme of human 'wolves', beginning with He's a Tramp, from the Walt Disney film, Lady and the Tramp, with lyrics written by Peggy Lee and Sonny Burke, and sung in the film by Peggy Lee. Lee also collaborated with Duke Ellington on I'm Gonna Go Fishin', which featured later in the performance.

Baden-Rennie took He's a Tramp and made it swing like crazy, with the help of her magical, musical pixie, the always in demand, Matthew Carey. Big names, like Dorothy Fields, who wrote the book for the musical, Annie Get Your Gun, as part of her vast output, to unfamiliar names, but women who wrote very well known songs, we were taken on a great musical tour of the 20th Century. We also learned a lot about the life and times of these many women.

Sunny Side of the Street brought forth another swinging powerhouse rendition, but blues, gospel, pop, and more, all got the Baden-Rennie treatment. Bernice Petkere may not ring a bell, but her song, Close Your Eyes, would be instantly recognised by many. The Best is Yet to Come was prophetic, with one sensational song after another given fresh and exciting interpretations by this skilled and talented, internationally travelled performer.

Baden-Rennie is performing this wonderful show in a range of venues around Adelaide and, if you like high quality, memorable music, superbly performed, with a clever and informative narrative, then you will love this unique cabaret production.

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