Presented by Upstage Theatre Company
Reviewed Saturday 4 February 2012
http://www.upstagetheatre.com
http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au
Fringe Venue: The Irish Club, 13-15 Carrington St, Adelaide
Fringe Season: 25 February, 3 & 10 March at 7.30pm
Duration: 90 mins
Tickets: Adult: $22.20 / Concession: $18.20
Bookings: FringeTix 1300-FRINGE (1300-374643) or www.adelaidefringe.com.au
The 2012 Adelaide Fringe season begins with this early preview of Upstage Theatre's follow up to their enormously entertaining 2010 revue, Kaos Kabaret (link: https://glamadelaide.com.au/kaos-kabaret-fringe/), held at the McLaren Vale Institute.
The success of the original Kaos Kabaret (which in itself was an adaptation of an earlier revue) came not only from its choice selection of sing-a-long party songs, but from its complete lack of pretence or plot. It was entertainment for the sake of entertainment, gathering together the popular songs of generations and introducing them with short, silly outbursts of dialogue or skits.
Director Susan Oldknow uses the same formula for this concert of sing-a-long favourites from the 1950s to the 1990s, which this time includes songs like Sumertime Blues, Waterloo, Sex Bomb, Bad Moon Rising, Like a Virgin, I Go to Rio, Walk Like an Egyptian, Video Killed the Radio Star, Ghostbusters and an irresistible medley by the Village People, to name but a few.
Comedy skits pay homage to Sweeney Todd, The Producers, Pirates of the Caribbean, Monty Python’s Flying Circus and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, amongst others.
The talented cast features Oldknow, as one of the star singers, along with Luke Baldock, John Martin, Deirdre Quinn, Shelley Pontiac, Violet Rowe, Cherylene O'Brien and Julie Oldknow.
Highlights include John Martin's comical impersonation of Mick Jagger for the song Paint It Black, tributes to Star Wars and Harry Potter, a suburban 'witch sketch' to introduce the song Disco Inferno, and Sue Oldknow, Cherylene O'Brien and Julie Oldknow singing Smokey Robinson’s Motown hit, Get Ready.
While the cast work hard, racing between endless costume changes and dance routines, O'Brien works particularly solidly, dancing to most songs and playing character roles in between. She somehow makes it all seem effortless. Her choreography and style is also refreshing but unobtrusive, adding enormously to the visual tapestry of each number.
Violet Rowe's costumes always threaten to steal the spotlight of any revue and this is no exception. The colourful parade of outfits ranges from multiple Elvis Presleys to caterpillars.
Mark Hallam's music sequencing is excellent, giving a full bodied sound to each number.
What doesn't work is the thread that ties together the first six or so songs, giving the impression that it will be an ongoing plot for the entire show. When the presumed storyline suddenly makes way for other, less tenuous song introductions so far into the first Act, it does cause some initial confusion.
The inclusion of Monty Python's classic song, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, got an immediate enthusiastic response from the audience, only to have it sadly cut short and replaced by the lesser known Violent Femmes number, Blister in the Sun, perhaps a more appropriate choice for a younger audience.
Early previews allow time for fine-tuning, however, and the final version of the show, premiering on 25 February, should be tighter and leaner. The troupe is expecting to cut half an hour of material from this extended two hour preview, bringing the show down to 90 minutes with interval. The colour and fun are already in place and Oldknow's selection of songs is once again a hit parade, showing great promise for an equally stellar Fringe season.
Reviewed by Rod Lewis, Performing Arts Critic, Glam Adelaide.
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