Devised and
performed by Rhonda Burchmore and Lara Mulcahy
Canberra
Southern Cross Club – 14th September 2019
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
Rhonda
Burchmore and Lara Mulcahy may be chalk and cheese, but both are consummate entertainers,
and together they’re pure magic. Their
latest cabaret, “Partners in Crime”, is a delightfully silly entertainment
based on the premise of two friends locked up for presenting bad impersonations.
As part of their punishment, they’re obliged to entertain the in-mates, which
they do by presenting... you’ve guessed it... bad impersonations of famous, and sometimes not so famous, duos.
 |
| Rhonda Burchmore and Lara Mulcahy in "Partners in Crime" |
Actually
some of the impersonations are not too bad at all. In fact some are very good
indeed. That is if you can accept Ms Burchmore as Kenny Rogers to Ms Mulcahy’s
Dolly Parton singing “Islands in the Stream”, or Ms Burchmore as Kiki Dee
dueting “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” with Ms Mulcahy’s Elton John.
Yes it’s
that silly. Imagine Ms Burchmore as Cher
belting out “If I Could Turn Back Time”, or dueting with Ms Mulcahy’s leering
Sonny for “I’ve Got You Babe”. Perhaps as Glinda and Elphaba from “Wicked” singing
“Because I Knew You”, (You guess who plays which), or Ms Burchmore recreating Hugh
Jackman singing “The Greatest Show”, or Ms
Mulcahy as the bearded lady belting out “This is Me”.
Have I said
too much?
 |
| Lara Mucahy (Sonny) - Rhonda Burchmore (Cher) |
Can’t help
myself because there’s more…much more. The costumes and wigs are worth the
price of admission alone, because, besides being very good singers, both
Burchmore and Mulcahy are wonderful clowns, and watching them create the characters
with lightning costume changes accomplished before your very eyes, is part of
the fun.
Although it
may sound chaotic, and at times chaos threatens, the routines are well
rehearsed and the songs very well sung, even including some choreography, all
of which is accompanied by a hardworking live band, at this performance no less
the marvellous Michael Tyack on keyboards and Sam Evans on percussion.
“Partners in
Crime” is touring widely so it’d be a crime to miss it when it comes to a venue
near you.
