Festival Theatre Fri 07 Jun
It’s once again that time of year to don those striking outfits and embrace all things that glitter, and make your way to the Adelaide Festival Centre to join in the fun of Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Tonight the red carpet is rolled out pre-show , and people are lolling around the bar having fun spotting celebrities and getting their own photographs taken as they recline resplendently on velvet couches. There are some fabulous outfits on display and everyone looks animated and ready to party.
Virginia Gay, this year’s artistic director and tonight’s MC is clearly enthused by the tantalising tasting menu of the acts she has rustled up for this year’s 2024 Variety Gala.
Cleverly directed by Mitchell Butel – I love some of the grand entrances from the back of the stage – with musical direction by Shannon Whitelock, tonight’s show is once again a fabulous celebration of all things cabaret in all its iterations – a bit naughty, a bit political, a bit cheesy and a whole lot of fun.
Opening the first half is UK trio Fascinating Aida with a ditty about embracing your true self. Commemorating 40 years in the business they stylishly walk that fine line between hamming it up and sincerity.
Other acts showcased in the first half include Gillian Cosgriff, who last year wowed audiences with her show The Fig Tree, performing a truly funny song about ill chosen and unwanted gifts. Bert LaBonte, from the show Swing On This, totally inhabits Marvin Gaye as smoothly and stylishly as anything you could wish for. I couldn’t stop myself from dancing in my seat and wow what a voice! Jess Hitchcock’s voice also impresses with its velvety strength, and I’m looking forward to her show A Fine Romance.
A highlight for me tonight is Flo and Joan, another act from the UK who have us all in stitches with their deadpan delivery of a “traditional” folk song Lady In The Woods. A very silly and very, very clever and hilarious rolling gag.
Adelaide’s Millicent Sarre, a graduate and now mentor of Class Of Cabaret belts out a torch song with panache.
The first half concludes with Mark Nadler’s consummate display of pizzaz and grand piano wizardry as he interweaves well known classical pieces with the likes of Chopsticks and comical banter.
The fabulous Reuben Kaye opens the second half and his segment beautifully spans the political with the naughty. A stalwart of Adelaide’s cabaret scene for many years, tonight he is presented with the Cabaret Festival’s Icon Award for 2024. Judging from the applause it is a well deserved accolade.
The grand piano gets another workout when Gabbi Bolt and Matthew Predny perform the finale from their show Murder For Two, before Rhonda Birchmore sashays on to the stage to dazzle us with her flamboyance and flair.
Not content with being MC, Virginia Gay, resplendent in a leather biker jacket, joins Christie Whelan Browne to perform You’re The One That I Want from Grease, and they are both clearly having as much fun as the audience who are singing along with them.
The amazing Mahalia Barnes closes the show with a commanding, seemingly effortless, and assured performance of River Deep, Mountain High. After a standing ovation we all stream out of Festival Theatre with smiles. Judging from tonight’s show we are in for another sassy, classy funny Cabaret Festival season, bursting with laughs, talent and amazing voices and musicianship. Virginia Gay can be rightfully proud of the program she has assembled and the artists she is bringing to our attention.
5 Stars
Catherine Tune
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Catherine Tune
A sumptuous smorgasbord of offerings from this year's Cabaret Festival.
