Reviewed at the The Factory, The Garden of Unearthly Delights on 17 February
Classic eighties tracks aren’t just for whipping out after dark at karaoke. Turns out they can also form the basis of a cracking kids show.
Amelia Ryan’s 80’s Baby is an all-singing, all dancing party for tiny people. Decked out in their neon best, Amelia, her backing dancers and three-piece band worked their way through a setlist including Guns ‘N Roses, Whitney Houston, Wham!, The Bangles – there’s even Ice Ice Baby with a completely re-worked rap (’80s Baby’ fits satisfyingly into the chorus).
It’s the sort of playlist I, as a child of the 80s, would happily listen to for fun – and the kids lapped it up (particularly those under 5). Before long the theatre resembled the scene of a lolly-fuelled kids birthday party, and even the parents were having a good singalong.
Hot tip: You’re encouraged to forgo the seating and head straight to the (dance) floor. If you want to sit down on the floor to stay near your littlies while they have a boogie, wear floor-appropriate clothing.
Venue: The Factory at The Garden of Unearthly Delights
Season: Feb 23-24 and Mar 2-3, 9-11, 16-17
Duration: 50 minutes
Tickets: $15-$20