Presented by La Boheme
Reviewed 27th June 2013
The Cabaret Fringe Festival presents another comical night out with The Rules of Love.
We enter into the room of TACSI (The Australian Centre for Social Innovation) to be greeted by an open, romantically-dressed room all set up ready for speed dating. The black table cloths, fortune cookies and candles match those up on stage where three smaller tables are set up for the performance. In the corner, the three piece band remains tucked away ready to perform and they do so very ably to command the movement of the show.
Before any of the music begins, performer and director Scott Nell enters the room as the flamboyant and sometimes sleazy character Scott Novak who runs the Novak and Goode speed dating and online dating services. Every table is personally greeted and presented name tags before the remaining cast members, Robyn Brookes and Carolyn Lockett, get on stage for their own round of speed dating.
Robyn presents as a quiet, career-driven woman who initially appears reserved but the secrets of her intimate life soon roll out. Carolyn, on the other hand, is a more intense character, desperately throwing herself and her number at any man who shows up to speed dating.
The music, by Peter Johns, features a few original pieces along with many popular songs, and is the centre of the performance. It is during the 1980s ballad-off where the vocal talent of the cast truly appears. Hints of their skill show throughout the play but it is during these love songs that they give gutsy tunes without losing the comical side of the show.
It is definitely an adults-only show in the content and some of the slides used to explain how someone can find their love. The dialogue isn’t as smooth as it could be to allow greater emotional connection to the characters. This could be due to a greater emphasis being placed on the lyrics to sell the changing scenes.
It is an entertaining and humorous show with a very simple stage set up. It’s a good night out for those who can handle swearing and receiving love advice in their fortune cookies.
Reviewed by Alex Dunkin
Venue: TACSI 279 Flinders Street Adelaide
Season: 26-29 June 2013
Duration: 60mins
Tickets: $20.00 – $25.00
Bookings: Cabaret Fringe Festival website