This is the final week of Sydney’s Biggest Little Cabaret Festival, with a brand new round of performances. The winners will go on to perform in the Gala Final to be held at 7pm on Sunday 7th February at the inner city venue Slide Lounge located at 41 Oxford Street.
Week 4 saw a great assortment of talent on stage. Emcee was the witty Cruello De Vil. In under 95 minutes, six superb ten minute performances were presented, with it being very difficult to pick the performance that will go through.
There was a good array of cabaret styles on display including female burlesque, cover songs, and songs with new comic lyrics.
1. DIRTY MARTINI
This starred Miss Bellissima who first appeared wearing a beautiful black mirror-sequined gown, delivered a classic burlesque routine that showed her flexibility as slowly layer upon layer of clothing was peeled away from her slender body. Performed to Shirley Bassey singing Diamonds Are Forever from The Remix Album. Next she swam and danced on top of a gigantic martini glass, followed by opening a bottle of champagne, gently poured all over her body. A dripping wet crowd pleaser.
(2) TALES FROM THE PSYCHE WARD
Lady Cool sang her new playlist, delivering clever storytelling humorous lyrics direct from her personal Psyche Ward, whilst playing her electric ukulele. The show generated plenty of laughs. With its many superb original songs, we quickly learn about Dating A Vegan Man. Her previous show was Conversations With My Shrink – so many problems so little time. Lady Cool over-shares, all about her life, love, family, by telling raw honest tales of her psychological battles from the inside of the white walls.
(3) DIAMONDS LAST FOREVER
Debbie Neilson plays Marilyn Monroe and Luke Reeves plays James Bond. Yes Debbie sounds exactly like MM as she sings Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend wearing a beautiful red and diamonds dress. Debonaire spy Luke arrives to the music of the James Bond Theme. However they are both on secret missions to kill each other. Debbie dances and sings My Heart Belongs To Daddy. Clever storyline, and ends with a surprise twist. Another audience favourite.
4. A CABARET MEDITATION
Alison Eaton sang and talked the audience through each of the meditations. Creating awareness, conversation and empowerment. First the meditation and mindfulness pitch, then Chakra cleansing. The Onion brought tears to your eyes, with the finale demonstrating The Beads Of Thought. At the same time, Lisa Frisina showed the coloured cleansing experience, and a water meditation and so much more. A unique cabaret experience, ending with applause from an appreciative audience.
5. HELP! I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M DOING
Coral Mercer-Jones sang about her constantly over-sharing awkward moments, and all with just too much laugh-inducing information. Her flirting techniques, being an only child and especially about sex, lots of sex. She is still trying to appear to be as normal as possible, and sings I would be jewish For You to show that she is capable of being the woman she thinks you need her to be. There was much to laugh with and enjoy with this performance. Mercer-Jones sang, accompanied on the piano by Matthew Jonathan Ogle.
6. BIKE
This piece saw Kay Armstrong in character as BIKE, gracefully dancing fully dressed as an ocker with a can of VB beer in hand. She performed many skits during her performance: First as a cockatoo, then asking Who’s There. My favourite was The Swan Lake ballet, whilst trying to remove a VB six pack stuck on one shoe…Then there was the chef with tongs, speaking easily misunderstood Australianisms, all delivered in rhyme was an absolute scream. Next The Special Bus was brought on, ending with the I Hate Cooking Shows medley. Fabulous comic cabaret entertainment, Australian Style.
The remaining performances of Week 4 Cabaret at the New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown are tonight and tomorrow night at 7.30pm and a Saturday matinee performance at 2.30pm.
http://www.shortandsweet.org/festivals/shortsweet-cabaret-sydney-2016
Production photography by Sylvi Soe.
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