Performing Arts

Sex and Crime with Fraulein Antje – Cabaret Fringe

Sex and Crime with Fraulein Antje Cabaret FringePresented by Antje Guenther and the Adelaide Cabaret Fringe
Reviewed Sunday 20 June 2010

http://www.cabaretfringefestival.com
http://www.myspace.com/labohemebar

Venue: La Boheme, 36 Grote Street, Adelaide
Season: 22 June at 8pm and 24 June at 7.30pm
Duration: 60 mins
Tickets: $28/conc $20
Bookings: BASS 131 241 or http://www.bass.net.au

Sex, kleptomania, murder, and sexy kleptomaniac murderers are all on the agenda in Antje Guenther’s kabarett des mordes.

Featuring 13 songs ranging from Tom Lehrer to the Avenue Q soundtrack, Guenther’s lovely voice works best in the more operatic numbers like Die Lotusblume (The Lotus Flower) but where she doesn’t impress in song, she certainly does in delivery.

Guenther displays a nice sense of comic timing and delivers humour that isn’t always as black as one would expect.

When she steps out on a limb however, Guenther is fantastic, leading the audience through a murderous meditation and providing a sex education class for children.

The show needs more of these antics. For the most part, it’s bitty and disjointed. Dialogue is primarily used only to introduce the next song, and Guenther’s bilingual abilities are an unimpressive gimmick in today’s multicultural society. It’s when the dialogue becomes more substantial that Guenther finally stands out and offers more than just a concert.

Director Naomi Steel’s influence seems negligible at best, unlike Musical Director Chris Martin who accompanies Guenther on piano with some fine playing.

The material needs work and the song choices need rethinking, but the talent is there, along with the hope Guenther gets another outing next Fringe.

Reviewed by Rod Lewis, Performing Arts Critic, Glam Adelaide.

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