Ash Flanders Is His Own Special Kind Of Victim – Adelaide Cabaret Festival Review

ArtSpace, Wed 10 Jun Ash Flanders jests that his private school education and white upper-middle class childhood is the perfect platform to play the victim. He is fuelled by witnessing other people playing out their own self-perceived victim attitude, together with his own foreseeable victim opportunities, such as one day playing the dead body in the dumpster in CSI: Special Victims Unit. In Special Victim Ash draws out his own experience feeling constantly victimised and immerses himself in characters such as fellow unique victim Susan Atkins, the murderer obsessed with Charles Manson. Although there are jokes, it is generally a sombre affair with slow emotive songs and twisted stories. Ash was engaging for the audience, but quite an unlikable character in this show. He was dressed in a white sparkled jump-suit and struts with leisurely flamboyance and superiority in his high heeled shoes. There is superfluous talking and therefore the music was always appreciated as Ash has an appealing voice. He is joined on stage by a brilliant pianist and arranger Dave Barclay. The music leaped across styles, including songs by artists such as Dolly Parton and The Pointer Sisters, which were arranged to suit the mood perfectly. This Boy’s In Love by The Presets was especially memorable. Special Victim has previously been performed around Australia and therefore is rehearsed, fluent, and confident. It will not suit everyone and will certainly not leave you with a cheery disposition. Barry Humphries insists there are no rules for the 2015 Adelaide Cabaret Festival and this show would suit those seeking something distinct from anything else in the Festival. Bobby Goudie Special Victim by Ash Flanders continues at ArtSpace, Adelaide Festival Centre, from 9.15pm until Thu 12 Jun. Book at BASS on 131 241 or bass.net.au. Click HERE to book your tickets.