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| The cast of the Strangways Cabaret. |
Director: Anne-Louise Rentell – Musical Director: Daryl
Wallis
Performed by: Phillip Prentiss – Ethan Arnold – Malcolm
Allison – Jordan Bowater – Ethan Green – Rachel Head – Phillip Prentice – Christian
Tagliaferro – Ricky Gamble – James Carey. Guest Artists: Lulu Venom – Nixi Cola
– Canberra Burlesque Academy.
Musicians: Daryl Wallis - Keys. Rob Laurie - Drums and
percussion.
The B, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, July 4th,
2026. Reviewed by BILL STEPHENS
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| Members of The Strangeway Cabaret |
The Strangeways Cabaret has been an annual event in the
Merrigong Theatre Company’s calendar since 2021. These were the company’s first
performances in Queanbeyan as part of a short tour which commenced in
Wollongong and also includes Bathurst.
The Strangeways Ensemble is a company of neuro-diverse
actors and musicians from Wollongong, who through the Strangeways Cabarets, which
through self-written songs, monologues and sketches, explores universal themes
from the unique perspectives of the participants.
The Strangeways Ensemble is Wollongong’s only professional theatre
company.
In this edition, those themes focussed mainly on love. Self-love
as well as romantic love, while exploring ways of being accepted as yourself.
Supported by excellent lighting and sound and directed by Anne-Louise
Rentell, with the company assuming purposely bizarre characterisations, costumed
individually as fantastical players, in a setting reminiscent of an underground
Parisian cabaret, the performance took the form of a series of unconnected items.
Unfortunately, there were no printed programs, or other
material, available to identify the players or the titles of each item, which may
have assisted the audience to appreciate the intent of those items. As it was,
the audience was left to make what it could of original songs for which the
lyrics were not always distinct.
This was a pity because there was no doubting the passion
behind the messages those songs and monologues were intended to communicate.
But missed messaging aside, the performance still left lingering
memories of the elderly lady, a vision in head-to-toe pink, who carried a small
hand-puppet puppy and performed counter-melody lyrics about loneliness to the
tune of the Unchained Melody.
And the enthusiastic dancer, snappily costumed in a black
dinner suit topped off with white hat and shoes, who after demonstrating his
prowess with Fred Astaire poses and Michael Jackson moonwalks drew gasps when
he stripped away his suit to complete his act in white singlet and gold
underpants.
And not forgetting the very tall gentleman dressed in a
bear-suit and red-ruff collar who conjured up memories of baggy-pants comedians
of Tivoli vaudeville days as he traded gags with the pink lady and gold-pants
dancer; or the excellent band augmented by cast members who doubled on various
instruments, and the clever drummer who contributed creepy sound-effects for the
monologues, The Strangeways Cabaret certainly offered a unique theatrical
experience.
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| The Strangeways Cabaret Band |
Photos provided by
Merrigong Theatre Company
