Pennsylvania Avenue: Bernadette Robinson Shines as White House Aid Harper Clements – Adelaide Cabaret Festival Review

Her Majesty’s Theatre, Fri 12 Jun The powerhouse trio of performer Bernadette Robinson, director Simon Phillips and writer Joanna Murray-Smith have united again to create an outstandingly beautiful show. The three previously produced one of the stand-out shows of the 2012 Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Songs For Nobodies. Pennsylvania Avenue is the story of Harper Clements who reminisces about her forty years she has worked at the White House, including the Presidents who reigned and the iconic singers who were connected to them. Harper begins serving Kennedy in 1962 with one of her first roles convincing Marilyn Monroe to remove her underwear to avoid her visible panty lines on her tight gown. Joanna Murray-Smith has written a sensational story that is both a powerful journey of one extraordinary woman as well as reminders of significant moments throughout American history such as the assassination of JFK, civil rights movement and Vietnam War. The simple, but effective set and video projection ensures Murray-Smith’s story is uncomplicated for the audience to follow. There can only be one woman to carry such monstrous show with such precision. Robinson is absolutely brilliant! This is a one-woman show so Robinson moves in and out of 33 different characters throughout Pennsylvania Avenue. She keeps the audience mesmerised for over 90 minutes through her engaging storytelling and superb versatile voice. She impersonates Aretha Franklin in Respect, Roberta Flack in The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and even sings Eve Of Destruction as Bob Dylan. Robinson is supported by the live four-piece band that is softly hidden at the back of the stage and moves through all the different eras and styles flawlessly. The standing ovation at the end of tonight’s performance was well-deserved. Pennsylvania Avenue will appeal to people who lived through these Presidents’ governing as well as those who learnt about them on the internet. Don’t miss it! Bobby Goudie Pennsylvania Avenue continues at Her Majesty’s Theatre at various times until Sun 14 Jun. Book at BASS on 131 241 or bass.net.au Click HERE to purchase your tickets. Image courtesy of Jeff Busby