Ali McGregor: Alchemy @ The Hayes

Ali McGregor and her band
Ali McGregor and her band

I caught Ali McGregor’s latest cabaret show ALCHEMY at Potts Point’s music theatre hub, the Hayes, during Sydney’s burst of appalling weather last week and it sure brightened the spirits

Opera Australia’s loss has become the cabaret world’s gain. McGregor held the audience gathered in the intimate Hayes theatre in the palm of her hand as she made her way through a set of some thirteen songs. 

The  alchemy that McGregor was engaged in was to transform hammy, overblown pop and soul  songs into miniature treasures which she achieved memorably.

Her renditions of Creep- Radiohead, Bang Bang- Nancy Sinatra, Tainted Love- Soft Cell and Never Tear Us Apart- INXS particularly blew me away.

McGregor was supported by a very impressive jazz band comprising a very pianist, bass player and drummer. Unfortunately there was no program so I can’t provide their names.

A Working  Management production, in association with the Hayes Theatre Company, played the Hayes theatre, 19 Greenknowe Avenue, Potts Point for regrettably only a very brief season between Tuesday April 21 and Sunday April 26.