Presented by Annie Siegmann for CABfringe
Reviewed Saturday 18th February 2012
Adelaide Fringe – En Route to Modesty Lane
Annie Siegmann – En Route to Modesty Lane
Venue: La Boheme, 36 Grote Street, Adelaide
Season: 9pm Sat 18, Sat 25 Feb, 2pm Sat 3 March
Tickets: Adults: $22/ Concession $18/ Fringe Benefits $18
Duration: 1hr
Guidance: PG
Bookings: Fringetix 1300-FRINGE (1300-374643), their outlets ($2.75 booking fee applies when booking through FingeTix), or online at Fringe bookings
Taking to the stage, Annie Siegmann, looks like a somewhat Gothic fairy-tale sprite. From what I understand, Siegmann has updated her show from Cabaret Fringe 2011 and Feast Festival 2011 to include a new look, and incorporate the advanced skills that she has picked up from attending the Australian Cabaret Summer School in January 2012.
Her earlier Feast Festival performance was reviewed at that time (read it here), but this review will evaluate the latest version of that evolving production.
Siegmann engages with her audience well and, whilst her stories are that of a student and young adult’s view of the world, her audience quickly realise that they can relate to this and are drawn into her journey. Her songs and her patter each provide little vignettes of significant moments in her life, rather than having a linear continuity. She has characteristic habits of her generation, but not too many to stop it being endearing, and she delivers her patter with ease and her songs with clarity, essential for the audience to understand the cleverly selected words. Her enthusiasm for her stories and her songs shows as she dances away, engages with her band, and gets lost in the moment.
The band has changed slightly from the Feast Festival show, with Alex Wignall still on keyboards, but with Holly Thomas on drums and Shireen Khemlani on bass and, as per the previous shows, Siegmann adds her own playing of the ukulele to the mix. Although not performing on this occasion, guitarist, Sam Leske, is her regular musical director and arranger, completing a line-up of great musicians.
In addition to the solid cabaret techniques and skills, Siegmann’s versatile, powerhouse voice confirms the belief that this performer is one to watch.
Reviewed by Jade Kops, special guest Fringe Critic, Glam Adelaide.
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