Adelaide Fringe

Fringe Review: Reuben Kaye: Success Story

By Jaimie Martin

Posted on February 27, 2017

If you want to see a show that’s a little bit scandalous, filled with emotion, and by a man who slightly resembles Liza Minnelli, you’ve found your show.

With a packed house last night at La Cascadeur, everyone was eager waiting for the man, the Australian-Jewish spectacle, Reuben Kaye: Success Story. When he emerged from backstage, a tall, glittering work of art, the crowd was eager to see what would happen. Despite having some trouble from a few rowdy members of the crowd, which he quickly dealt with, he took all the mishaps in his stride and didn’t let it affect the performance or his energy – the sign of a true professional.

Kaye’s show was outrageous, but brilliant at the same time. The show flowed seamlessly from traumatic experiences to humour to song, with little faltering or discernible break between parts. Loaded with so many references, you’ll probably only understand half of them, you’ll need to bring your cultural reference dictionary to truly get him. He uses audience participation to his advantage, so if you’re a man who likes to sit front row, be aware that he will rub your balding head for all it’s worth.

For a one person show, Kaye doesn’t fail to fill the stage, whether it’s with his energy or his gloriously huge pink coat. If you want to see a show that’s a little bit scandalous, filled with emotion, and by a man who slightly resembles Liza Minnelli, you’ve found your show.