Carlotta delivered an incredible performance and had the audience eating out of the palm of her hand
Presented by: Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Adelaide Festival Centre
Reviewed: 8 June, 2025
The phrase ‘living legend’ gets thrown around a lot, but that is exactly who Carlotta is. She is a true living legend through and through. From her early days working at Sydney’s Les Girls, her work as an activist for equal rights, and the inspiration behind the film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Carlotta has done it all.
Carlotta’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival show, The Party’s Over, was a sixty-minute trip down memory lane for Carlotta and audiences. At 82 years young, Carlotta gives her all through this brilliant show and has the audience eating out of her palm, even before appearing on stage.
Known for her quick-witted tongue and brilliant audience banter, Carlotta did not disappoint. There’s nothing politically correct about her, and that is what her fans love. Opening the show with When You’re Good To Mama, Carlottawove tales and stories from her illustrious career with a selection of songs to support her stories. Highlights included Carlotta’s covers of The Lady is a Tramp, I Am What I Am, My Way and her finale piece, I’m Still Here. A real magical moment in this performance was when Carlotta sat on the stairs leading from the stage and had a question and answer session with the audience. Her answers were as genuine as the questions, clearly highlighting the immense respect Carlotta has for her fans, and her fans for her.
Carlotta was backed by a tight, three-piece band featuring Flick Freedman on bass, Stephen Leske on drums and Carlotta’s long-time musical director, Michael Griffiths, on piano. The trio provided a strong, musical tapestry for Carlotta to perform with. At times, Griffiths took lead vocals or duetted with Carlotta. Highlights of this included Barry Manilow’s 1975 hit I Write The Songs and the tribute bracket to Peter Allen, including Quiet Please, There’s A Lady On Stage, I Go To Rio, and I Still Call Australia Home.
It would not be a Carlotta performance without a selection of glamorous outfits, and she did not disappoint. Opening the show in a stunning emerald green sparkling dress, draped in an electric blue feather boa and adorned with a silver diamond-encrusted headpiece, Calotta was the definition of class. Part way through she changed into a teal and silver feathered jacket before closing the show in a pastel orange sparkling dress, hot orange feather boa and an impressive feathered headpiece.
This one-hour show was over much too soon, but Carlotta certainly gave the audience their money’s worth. This fitting farewell performance gave the audience their chance to thank Carlotta and the two standing ovations were certainly well deserved.
Reviewed by Ben Stefanoff
Photo credit: Claudio Raschella
Venue: Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre
Season: 8 June, 2025
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