Cabaret Fringe

Barely Legal – 2012 Adelaide Cabaret Fringe

Presented by Harriet Allcroft
Reviewed Sunday 17th June 2012

Harriet Allcroft spends a lot of time reminding us that she is only just eighteen, hence the title of her show. Yet she shows a great deal of self-awareness and a sophisticated ability for self-deprecating humour that seems somewhat at odds with the ‘typical’ image associated with her age group.

But this is Allcroft’s first cabaret, and she has suitably made it about a number of her own firsts: first job and first love. Her stream of consciousness style patter could be tighter, but this would also take away some of what makes Allcroft so endearing on stage, which is her fearless ability to simply be herself. She is blunt, she does not censor herself and the show has an all-out feeling of spontaneity which is incredibly entertaining.

And then there are the songs. Allcroft has taken some of the best-known songs of artists, such as Dusty Springfield and Amy Winehouse, and stamped herself indelibly over them all. Her version of the Beatles’ Ticket to Ride is the best I have heard since the original, displaying a depth of feeling that was completely unexpected. Allcroft’s ability to be herself on stage extends into her musicianship and ability to take ownership of this material. Alex Wignall on piano excels in his instrumental solos, and is unobtrusive in his accompaniment of Allcroft.

As a show that is unashamedly about firsts and about learning from experience, it seems almost irrelevant to make comment on those things that could be improved. For future shows, Allcroft may benefit from having a director, and it would be nice to see the accompaniment woven in to the show a little more naturally, but in the context of “Barely Legal”, the lack of these things is actually quite appropriate.

Reviewed by Megan Doherty, Guest Cabaret Fringe Critic, Glam Adelaide.

Cabaret Fringe web site

Venue: La Boheme, 36 Grote Street, Adelaide
Season: to 20th June 2012
Duration: 55min
Tickets: $20-$25
Bookings: BASS 13 12 45 or here

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