The House is Live. Opening Gala of the 2019 Adelaide Cabaret Festival
Host Artistic Director Julia Zemiro. Directed by Craig Ilott. Musical Director Daniel Edmonds. Produced by Maggie Oster. Thebarton Theatre. June 7 2019
Reviewed by Peter Wilkins
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| Mitchell Butel and Julia Zemiro What A Swell Party This Is Photo by Claudio Rascella |
The red carpet rolls out and the
crowd rolls in. The crowd throngs in the foyer of the Thebarton Theatre, the Cabaret
Festival’s 1928 art deco venue. The air is abuzz with excitement. Camera’s
flash and members of The Swell Mob, direct from Edinburgh, weave in and out
through the crowd with their in your face brand of interactive participation.
It is the opening of this year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Artistic
Director Julia Zemiro has lined up a stellar company of cabaret artists to
serve up a banquet of delectable cabaret morsels.
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| Queenie van de Zandt |
“The house is live” the stage
manager announces to the waiting artists as the audience files in and a night
of sheer entertainment, social commentary
and political subversion breathes life into the world of cabaret. A didgeridoo sounds in the darkness and three
indigenous performers emerge to welcome to country in dance and music. The dance represents the strength of women
and the spirit of humanity that permeates the thousands of years of aboriginal
culture. It is sombre, yet proud and uplifting and a reminder from the man that
“Life is a cabaret. And so the opening gala gets under way.
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| Reuben Kaye |
Zemiro’s opening under the
direction of Craig Ilott and musical director and pianist Daniel Edmonds is
more than a taste of things ro come. It is a celebration of joy and the wonder
and thrill of Life. Artistic Director of State Theatre South Australia Mitchell
Butel and Zemiro set the tone with their lively and fun-filled rendition of “What
a Swell Party This Is.” The mood is set and who better to take it up a few notches than that Colossus
of Camp, the flamboyant, outrageous and
sequined Reuben Kaye with his devil may care political jibes and full throttled
voice. Following that whirlwind of energy would daunt the most seasoned performer,
and Alma Zygier’s love of the songs of Ella Fitzgrald and Judy garland took a
shaky ride on the trolley of the great American Songbook with flat notes and a
hint of apology. I suspect that she will be more at ease with her own show in
the festival.
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| Meow Meow and Paul Capsis |
I am conscious that it is the
occasion that is the star of this event, and not the acts, although it is
impossible not to be blown away by the powerful voice and personality of
Queenie van de Zandt, the searing soulfulness of Paul Capsis’s channeling of
Billie Holiday and Meow’ Meow’s magical hold on an audience caught under her
bewitching spell with original songs and cheekily confronting audience
involvement. Internationally acclaimed
from Adelaide to Berlin and the West End, Meow is a legend of the cabaret and
this year’s worthy recipient of the Icon Award, previously awarded to Reg
Livermore, Rhonda Birchmore, Robyn Archer and the late Godfather of the
Adelaide Cabaret Festival, the inimitable, inspiring Frank Ford.
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| Maude Davey |
Burlesque artist, Maude Davey, complete
with feathers, tassles and fishnet stockings and little else flaunts and
frolics her way through her act to the delight of audience in the stalls. What
is most refreshing in Zemiro’s festival are the new faces who open our eyes to new
perceptions of the continuing question, “What is Cabaret?” Queanbeyan raised
and Canberra educated poet rapper Omar Musa, winner of the Sydney Cabaret
Festival Award brings a new and dynamic voice to the cabaret stage with his
rocket fueled defiance of social injustice and political interference. The
rapid fire delivery of this master of the poetic dialectic is thoroughly
absorbing, challenging audiences to take the ride and make the commitment. Another
newcomer to the scene is Nikechi Anele, an Australian Nigerian singer
song-writer and broadcaster with the rich voice and sophisticated stage
presence to charm and enchant. She and Musa were the one night stands of the
Opening and I eagerly await their inclusion in a future cabaret Festival.
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| Omar Musa |
The tickertape glittered down
from the ceiling as the event came to a close, but not before a touching and
moving ode from Meow Meow to honour
Frank Ford and introduce the eternal light that will shine in his memory
throughout the festival. From jazz to pop to rock to soul and everything in
between this festival has something for everyone whether one loves romance, comedy,
music that moves you, reminiscence, something shiny or that curve ball that
comes from left field and surprises.
It is a banquet waiting to be
tasted after an opening that promised more nights to remember.
Photos by Claudio Raschella