Experience the history and hit music of the Bond franchise through young eyes
Presented by: Oliver John
Reviewed: 30 May, 2025
Martinis, tuxedo suits, gorgeous women and award-winning songs are all trademarks of the James Bond 007 franchise. Whether you were around for the first film in 1962 or you only know the recent Daniel Craig run, the hit songs that title each movie are etched in culture for many generations.
After the successful season at the last Cabaret Fringe, it seems Oliver John was inspired by Adele’s contribution to Skyfall as a launch-pad for this year’s offering of all things Bond. Opening with a classic, Diamonds are Forever in the ballroom at Ayers House, complete with tuxedos and glitzy gowns, John and fellow singer, Leticia Lee take the audience through a potted history of the music of Bond. A Wikipedia entry of factoids about hits like You Only Live Twice, Thunderball, Moonraker, Nobody Does it Better, Live and Let Die and more are showcased. Lee has a particularly good vocal tone, and the arrangements are well suited, although some diversity in delivery would help engage with the content more.
Euan Safey is the sole musician supporting the two singers, adeptly taking on the musicality of this style – even becoming a John Foreman-type in giving us a quick music theory lesson that is charming and an entertaining change up in the repertoire. While Safey is talented in his own right, a brass or string instrument would not go astray to really flesh out the lush scores of these epic songs.
John and Lee will settle into the script and present their factoids with more ease as the show settles, and hopefully so will the sound mix which was pretty muddy on opening night. Both singers were best when in their era, with a medley of Billie Eilish’s No Time to Die, Adele’s Skyfall and Sam Smith’s Writing’s on the Wall being a highlight; each connecting in a believable manner and sitting in vocal stylings suited to their young voices.
There is no doubt that lovers of the Bond franchise will get something out of this show, whether it is a trip down memory lane or a reminder of the familiarity of the smooth lounge arrangements that work in any luxe setting.
Reviewed by Hayley Horton
Venue: The Ballroom @ Ayers House
Season: 30 May – 1 June 2025
Duration: 60 minutes
Tickets: $32 – $36
Bookings: https://cabaretfringefestival.com/artfuel/program/148/show/bond-songs-the-music-of-007
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