A Blues And Burlesque “It’s You It’s Not Me” at La Bohème – Adelaide Fringe Review

La Bohème, Wed 17 Feb A snappily-dressed Pete Saunders sits at his piano and starts playing for the rapidly filling La Bohème audience. He plays some introductory pieces while the stragglers enter and get settled; his foray into a blues-infused Coronation Street theme is a nice touch. Saunders, a polished veteran of London’s burlesque scene, is disarming while appearing to be mildly uncertain about what is to come this evening. Of course, this is all part of the show and the next hour is nothing short of brilliant. No Angels On A Saturday Night sets the scene perfectly. The show is based around Saunders’ own songs, which cover a range of moods and themes. The delightfully cynical It’s All Good provides a jaunty insight into the minds of the happily ignorant, while A Bit More Lovely Every Day flawlessly captures the spirit of enduring affection. The performance is augmented by some delightfully naughty burlesque, courtesy of the gorgeous Sarina del Fuego and Lola LaBelle, and this is enjoyed by all. There are some genuinely funny moments too, largely courtesy of Rudi the sad-faced clown. If you like your Wagner sung by a chap with a red ball for a nose, Rudi is your man. There’s almost continuous interaction with the crowd, a relatively easy task in this intimate venue, and Saunders also manages to pack in around a dozen songs. The hour passes rather too quickly and most of those present would happily stay for twice that length of time. Saunders’ songs are insightful, his piano playing doesn’t miss a note, his chat is erudite as well as being amusing, and he has a great singing voice to boot. This is a charming, colourful and interesting show, skilfully presented by Saunders and his friends. It is only on until Sunday, so get down and see it while you can! David Robinson A Blues And Burlesque "It's You It's Not Me" continues at La Bohème from 9pm until Sun 21 Feb. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.