Chloe Castledine and The Cast raise the roof while celebrating the greatest 80’s female vocalists.
Presented by: The Cast Entertainment
Reviewed: 03 March, 2023
On Friday night a sold-out crowd buzzed with anticipation, waiting for the 80s to come back. Lead singer Chloe Castledine, together with her talented band and dancers, does not disappoint. 80s Ladies is a party where foot stamping and dancing in your seat is encouraged. It creates an atmosphere of excitement and vivid nostalgia.
There is no preamble or banter with the audience, which enables Castledine and the cast to squeeze every possible 80s smash hit into sixty short minutes. Every song in their line-up is a banger, no ballads or loss of momentum is allowed. They bring back 80s legends and divas such as Bonnie Tyler, Annie Lennox of Eurythmics, Cyndi Lauper, Kylie Minogue, Madonna, Olivia Newton-John, Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston, and The Weather Girls.
Castledine has a strong singing voice with great vocal range. She gives her heart and soul into bringing each song to life, although she is not alone. Alessia Charman sings Toni Basil’s iconic Hey Mickey with perfect enthusiasm. (It’s a shame the Friday night audience doesn’t get to hear Charman’s opening rendition of Total Eclipse of the Heart due to a malfunctioning microphone. Though this doesn’t spook her and she continues to perform with a smile.)
The full band provides the perfect soundtrack to these iconic songs. It boasts guitar, bass and drums in addition to a full string quartet, keyboard and brass section. The backup dancers have new routines and costume changes for each song. They have a seemingly endless supply of energy and classic 80s power poses. Talented skater Carmen Bryant joins the cast for Xanadu.
80s Ladies is the perfect show for anyone wishing to relive fond memories. For a younger audience, it provides an opportunity to experience the sounds of the 80s beyond the soundtrack of Stranger Things.
Reviewed by Nicola Woolford
Venue: The Pyramid @ Fool’s Paradise
Season: 3rd – 17th March, 2023
Duration: 60 minutes
Tickets: $37.50 – $50.00
Bookings: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/80-s-ladies-af2023
