A relatable and funny examination of the retail sector, delivered with Amelie Peters’ dry wit and powerful vocals.
Presented by: Amelie Peters
Reviewed: 26 February, 2023
Millions of Australians have at some point worked a retail job. Some have found it to be a rewarding career and for some it has been a way to pay the rent until they finish uni, but all have a horror story or two to tell. Amelie Peters has a whole collection of them, and shares these oh-so-relatable stories through parodies, original songs, and a conversational style that makes you feel like you’re chatting away in your living room instead of being separated by a stage.
Amelie is alone on the stage with a keyboard and a ukulele, and delivers her songs with either self-accompaniment on either instrument, or on a few occasions with a pre-recorded backing track. Amelie shares her stories of long working hours with no bathroom breaks, customers always getting her name wrong, the dreaded Karens, and more, in a funny, relatable way. She has a dry sense of humour and a powerful voice, her parodies are clever, and she really knows how to deliver a punchline. Her original songs were equally clever lyrically, written in a pop style that really shows off the strengths of Amelie’s voice. The heartfelt ‘Boxing Day’, an original song about the high rate of suicide around Christmas time and the high levels of depression in many retail workers, was particularly moving.
It may have only been opening night jitters, but some of Amelie’s spoken segments didn’t flow quite as well as they could have, occasionally changing direction where they weren’t meant to or skipping over something that had been forgotten. These minor hiccups will most likely be tightened for the remaining performances, and Amelie’s vocal and instrumental work was well-rehearsed and professional.
This show deserved a bigger house than it received on opening night. It’s difficult to see everything, and 9pm on a Sunday might seem like a bit of a commitment, but for those with emotional baggage from their own time working in retail, Retail Reality will be a therapy session that is definitely worth coming out for on a Sunday night.
Reviewed by Kristin Stefanoff
Venue: The Jade
Season: 26 Feb, 5 March, 12 March, 13 March
Duration: 60min
Tickets: $27 – $33
Bookings: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/retail-reality-af2023
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