Rhonda Burchmore is a true master of her art and an absolute living legend
Presented by: Rhonda Burchmore & Adelaide Cabaret Festival
Reviewed: 12 June, 2024
For forty-two years Rhonda Burchmore has been working in the entertainment industry. As you can imagine, there’s a treasure-trove of stories, secrets and memories to accompany such a long career. Burchmore’s new show, Tall Tales, which premiered at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, sees her open up the memory vault and share the souvenirs, stories and selfies that she has collected over her career.
Tall Tales is a beautifully written show, lifting the lid on a cross-section of stories that you have to hear to believe. As Burchmore says at the top of the show, “All these stories are true…except for the bits I made up!”
After dancing her way onto the stage in a high energy opening number, Burchmore presents the audience with a scrap book of memories that she uses to aid her story-telling for the next seventy minutes. Each tale is coupled with a song that has been perfectly selected to accompany it. We hear horror stories of a run down hotel named Xanadu, paired perfectly with a lounge-jazz cover of Xanadu, through to a hilarious number, Discarded Men paired perfectly with images of Rhonda and a list of ‘discarded men’ — such as Bill Clinton, Rolf Harris and Donald Trump. This number also featured an excellent tap dance by Burchmore, choreographed by Christopher Horsey.
Burchmore has a wonderful way of weaving a story so you are sitting there right in the palm of her hand. Her warm personality filled the Dunstan Playhouse. Tall Tales felt like a casual catch-up with a longtime friend, sharing stories over a cheeky glass of bubbles. Burchmore’s mischievous side also shone through in bucket loads through the performance. This really is cabaret at its best.
Burchmore was supported by Tony Floyd on drums, Jordan Tarento on double bass, and the incredible Jack Earle on piano. Earle has been Burchmore’s musical director for the past several years. He is an absolute musical wiz and can make the piano sing like no-one else. Earle also joined Burchmore on vocals for the Peggy Lee and Bing Crosby duet Slow Boat To China. Floyd, Tarento and Earle’s musicianship was on point, providing a rich musical accompaniment for Burchmore’s performance.
Sadly, this was a once off event at this years’ Cabaret Festival, but I’m sure it won’t be the last time Burchmore graces our state. She is a true master of her art and an absolute living legend.
Reviewed by Ben Stefanoff
Photo credit: Claudio Raschella
Venue: Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre
Season: ended
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