Stitch In Time ~ A Knitting Cabaret: Wish Me Luck As You Make Me A Scarf ~ Adelaide Fringe 2023 Review

[MUSIC/Historical ~ CAN] The Jade, Wed 22 Feb, 2023. It really is remarkable just how many songs there are about knitting! And I imagine Canada’s Melanie Gall knows most all of them. Cracking titles like “I’m Knitting a Singlet For Cecil’, and “I Wonder Who’s Knitting For Me” warm the soul and solicit smiles. We learn that knitters would occasionally include secret notes to the recipient of their garment (usually a soldier) in the hope of striking up some romantic liaison, or to provide encouragement to fight on. And knitters were sometimes pulled up at customs and asked to explain the weird diagrams and markings on their knitting patterns! Because knitting became associated with the war effort during the two world wars it became closely linked with patriotism and doing your bit (‘knit your bit’ as the slogan went) for the country. Most knitters were women (the blokes were off fighting after all) but we were shown a slide of men knitting as they convalesced before heading back to the battlefield. The slides were a great backdrop to the narrative, but many appeared washed-out – the consequence of performing in the daytime in a venue that cannot be blacked out. Melanie Gall is clearly an experienced performer. She has a gorgeous voice and stays safely within the music hall genre that is her forte. She is a mine of information about all things knitting and the quirky nature of her subject matter makes it ideal Fringe material (no pun intended) but there is a limit to how long you can get away with singing along to a pre-recorded backing track. I know it's hard to work up the enthusiasm to do an afternoon show in front of a small audience, but Gall seemed very relaxed with it all. Perhaps a bit too relaxed. It just had a bit of a going through the motions feeling to it. But still, lovely songs beautifully sung and with lots of fun facts to dazzle your friends with on your next social outing! 3 stars Michael Coghlan Stitch In Time: A Knitting Cabaret continues at The Jade, at various times, until Sun 5 Mar. Book at FringeTIX and adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #TheClothesline #ADLfringe