Larissa McGowan – Cher: A Journey Of Self-Discovery And Transformation ~ Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2019 Review

[WORLD PREMIERE ~ AUS ~ IF YOU LOVE… A CURVE BALL] Space Theatre, Fri 19 Jun. Larissa brings her take on Cher’s life, through dance, to the stage. The show starts with her coming out in costume and hair recalling the epic film clip If I Could Turn Back Time dancing and lip syncing to the Cher hit. Lots of hair flipping and gyrating on stage with a face as expressive as her dancing, give life and a few laughs and a hope of what is to come. The show has soundtracks of Cher’s voice spattered throughout, which in some cases is lip synced along with or just emotionally told through body language. At one stage she follows the lime light, I believe, trying to stay in it and relevant to society? The music is varied and not just constricted to Cher’s music, ranging from a very deep bass which pounds your ears to an almost techno vibe, which she dances to frenetically; there is almost a kinetic energy to her movements. The lighting is very dramatic and at moments as mesmerising as her dance. This piece is wildly different than anything else I have seen, this being my first experience with a contemporary dance show. I liked it but maybe if I had a wider knowledge on Cher’s life it may have made more sense. Or maybe it is left to the audience to decipher the dance as they see it for themselves? In any case, many faces were fixed towards the stage in a quiet, almost contemplative silence while watching our stage performer. Cher’s influence in Larissa’s world – and the world in general – will leave a lasting impression, and in Cher’s own words that ended the night “After the holocaust, there will be cockroaches and Cher!” 3 stars Janine Spearpoint Larissa McGowan – Cher continues at Space Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, from 9pm until Thu 20 Jun. Book at BASS on 131 246 and adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. FB: @adelaidecabaretfestival TW: @AdelaideCabaret IG: @adelaidecabaret #adcabfest Presented by Adelaide Cabaret Festival in conjunction with Vitalstatistix