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Royal Gala – Cabaret Fringe

Royal Gala Cabaret Fringe 2010Presented by Cabaret Fringe Festival
Reviewed Tues 1st June 2010

http://www.cabaretfringefestival.com

Venue: The Promethean, 116 Grote Street, Adelaide
Season: One night only
Duration: 2hrs
Bookings for all Cabaret Fringe shows: BASS 131 241 or http://www.bass.net.au

The 2010 Cabaret Fringe kicked off with the Royal Gala, a taste of things to come, with a small selection of acts from the 40 that will be appearing during the month. Fred Fudara played guitar and sang songs in English and French as the audience arrived. His show is Come Fly with Me – Paris to Rio on the Sunday 6th and Saturday 12th June at La Bohème and is a must for those who like the music of exotic places.

Paul Boylon, resplendent in top hat and tails, then welcomed everybody and introduced Sidonie Henbest, the MC for the evening. She then sang a rousing version of Wilkommen to get things rolling. Her show is Lady Sings the Blues, a tribute to the great Lady Day, Billie Holiday and is on Thursday 10th June at The Promethean.

She then introduced Adam Page who, using a stubby of beer, his voice and a sampler created a couple of instant backing tracks, with a farir degree of humour along the way. His show, Adam Page Solo, is on Saturday 5th, Thursday 10th, Saturday 12th and Wednesday 16th June at La Bohème.

Georgina Aué was next, singing at the piano on I Don’t Know Why from her show A Norah Jones Tribute, which will feature her rich jazz voice with a quartet backing her. That can be seen on Saturdays 12th, 19th and 26th at The Promethean.

Miss Cherry Valens, dancing solo but representing A Wink and a Smile Burlesque who will be performing The Seduction Society on Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd June at La Bohème, gave us a very stylish and classy fan dance, with two enormous red feathered fans.

Antje Guenther, brandishing a pair of loaded kazoos and with her tongue firmly in her cheek, gave us a song, I Can Make You Feel Special, from her show, Sex and Crime with Fräulein Antje, that will be at La Bohème on Saturday 20th, Tuesday 22nd and Thursday 24th June. Best known as an actress, it was pleasing to discover that she also has a fine singing voice and a nice line in cheeky comedy. She will accompanied on piano by Chris Martin, who accompanied all of the acts in the Royal Gala.

The last act before the interval was Matt Gilbertson, appearing as his well-known alter ego, Hans, complete with accordion, risqué jokes and ribald songs. The Hans Seduction is nightly from Thursday 3rd to Saturday 5th at The Highway where he will be joined by his band, the Lucky Bitches.

Jamie Jewell opened the second half with a song from his show, The Lonely Man. Dark and brooding, this could prove to be one of the big highlights with its distinct air of Weimar Kabarett. It can be seen on Saturday 19th, Tuesday 22nd, Thursday 24th and Saturday 26th when you will find him at Format Space.

Bird Wizdom’s Tiny Conspiracy, was represented by Anya McNicol-Windram, performing solo with her ukulele and singing A Funny Song and Psychotic Freak. She has a great sense of humour and knows how to work an audience. This popular group are sure to draw big crowds to La Bohème on Wednesday 23rd, Thursday 24th and Saturday 26th June, so book early.

Liz Skitch and her ever protective accordion were next with an hilarious snippet from her show, Skitch Tease, a hugely popular sell-out show at the Fringe earlier this year. If you missed her then, now is your chance to catch her on Wednesday 2nd, Thursday 3rd, Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th at La Bohème, but book quickly as she is sure to sell out again.

The very popular Nikki Aitken, as Toula, and Loki Rickus, as Guy, appear in Fiance-Gay, and their duet, Make Him Mine, was their contribution to the evening. They are at The Promethean on Friday 11th and Sunday 27th June.

Ending the evening came Country singer Amber Joy Poulton whose show, Honky Tonk Angel, a tribute to Loretta Lynn and friends, can be seen at Stonyfell Winery Function Centre in a dinner show on Friday 4th June. No Country music fan will want to miss her beautiful voice recreating those familiar songs.

Sidonie Henbest said goodnight to the audience and sang Cabaret as a closing number, then the stage lights finally went out on a terrific evening.

Although the performance was over the audience was in no hurry to leave and conversations went on until much later in the evening, a tribute to the convivial after effects of a great evening of entertainment. This was only a small number of the shows that form the Cabaret Fringe, and they all look good, but, whatever you do, book quickly as shows are selling out rapidly.

The full programme, with details of all shows, venue locations and other information can be downloaded from the web site displayed at the top of this review.

Reviewed by Barry Lenny, Arts Editor Glam Adelaide.

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