Publicly Private – The Introvert Cabaret: A Brave, Honest, Quirky Monologue – Adelaide Fringe Review

Band Room at Crown & Anchor Hotel, Wed 21 Feb. [CABARET/MUSIC – SA] If you feel a little um… er….well…you know….awkward in social situations then you might as well do something useful with your embarrassment right? That’s what Frankly (Nicole O’Rielley) has done in Publicly Private. Living up to her name, she takes us on an open tour of her brain. When we walk in she’s talking to us, isn’t she? Or is she talking to herself? Using an almost stream of consciousness lyrical style she explores and shares her insecurities with piano accompaniments in episodes that might loosely be called songs. The piano parts add dramatic fill to the stories rather than carry a melody, and frequently wander off key and a touch out of tune in sympathy with Frankly’s meandering mind. Sometimes Frankly’s observations can be quite verbally violent, briefly, before settling back into her quirky perceptive monologue of how she sees the world of dating, gender, sex, parties, and social life in general. There are funny moments. Her meta deconstructive treatment of the average pop song was a treat, and though it was just a throwaway line I loved her acknowledgment of how introverts feel when asked by performers to be part of a show! Overall, Frankly’s a fairly cynical, critical soul, but in that same way some comedians have of daring to say what we’re all thinking but wouldn’t say out loud. This is a brave work. Very personal. Very quirky. Awkward. Totally honest. 3.5 stars Michael Coghlan Publicly Private continues at Band Room at Crown & Anchor Hotel from 7.45pm until Sun 4 Mar. Also at Chateau Apollo at Crown & Anchor Hotel from 9pm on Sun 11 Mar. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #ADLfringe