Charlee Watt’s powerhouse vocals, a love of coffee, and a hot band make an excellent brew this Cabaret Fringe
Presented by: Charlee Watt
Reviewed: 30 May, 2025
Jerry Seinfeld once said, “coffee solves all these problems in one delightful little cup”, and Charlee Watt seems to fervently agree, singing it to the rafters. This world premiere cabaret, created and performed by Watt is all about that magic bean that is an essential part of so many people’s lives. Watt believes it’s a metaphor for “how we keep going in a life that never stops”, and most of the opening night audience nodded in agreement, seeing themselves in her story (the rest are interloping tea drinkers).
At its core, Caffeine Fiend takes us to a jazzy cafe with sultry sounds and powerhouse vocals. Charlee Watt evokes Ella Fitgerald, Nina Simone and even Sabrina Carpenter through a range of songs linked to that java jolt. She has heaps of personality and is at her best when really connected to the text, a highlight being Meet you for coffee. While the quality of performance is high, Watt is distanced from the audience, struggling to connect in her cabaret banter by the use of music stands with script and lyrics always needing reference (to the point of losing the plot with a wrong page turn). Settling into the show (with guidance from director Brock Roberts) and removing this physical barrier will really elevate her performance to be something special.
A stellar sound mix in the Eliza Hall enhances Watt’s singing with a “smooth, strong and hot” band led by David Goodwin as MD and on keys, with Christina Guala-Goodwin on saxophone and backing vocals, Declan Horan on double bass and Bailey Hall on drums. This band is indeed, just how we like our coffee and takes the act to the next level of quality in the offerings of the Cabaret Fringe. Each musician has their moment to shine, setting a vibe of a classic jazz jam session.
The show has the potential to develop into an accessible, high-quality production with anecdotes that celebrate a love of coffee and the relationships that spring from sharing a cup of Joe. So get ready to reel off your pretentious order and join the cult that is coffee and jazz.
Reviewed by Hayley Horton
Venue: Eliza Hall
Season: ended
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