Review by Michelle Fisher
With over 600 shows in town for the Adelaide Fringe, choosing what to see and which performers to bank on can be tricky. If you’re anything like me, you may have scrolled through the full show list for weeks, only to arrive in Adelaide and still find a slew of shows you hadn’t yet heard of that you now desperately want to fit into your schedule…sound familiar?
This is where lineup shows come to the rescue, providing an opportunity to see 8-10 min sets from acts that have full length shows throughout the fringe. Whether or not it entices you to see the whole show, doesn’t matter. Either way, it is a great way to engage with more work from more artists, and, in a variety show such as this, more art forms as well.
A lineup show, however, is only as good as its hosts and this is where The Cabaret Hour, having already won a fringe award last week, has the potential to make waves. To find 2 better hosts than consummate professionals, talented performers and both, as they describe, life and stage partners, Jens Radda and Iva Rosebud, would be a challenge!
Radda and Rosebud’s (there’s a show title in that, just saying) rapport with the audience is immediate - they are warm, inviting hosts and both have such obviously kind personalities that you want to love everything that they do. These qualities are rare for performers and it is what ensures that these performers have long and dazzling careers ahead of them. When you say that they sparkle on stage, it has little to do with the sequins adorning their dresses (though beautiful), and more to do with their vivaciousness and enticing smiles.
Their opening number about being sisters showcased their great vocals and dynamic harmonies. Both dressed in gowns to the nines, I highly recommend seeing their individual shows as well because I can tell that these two would be fabulous!
Hosted in the very unique space that is Nineteenten, for those that have not been, let me set the scene. There’s a cocktail bar, a stage that is half covered, half open swimming pool, a bathtub to the right of that and a grand piano in the corner with sequinned walls to boot. It’s only downside is that it is open air and on the scorching 42 degree day that we were there, it was absolutely melting hot. The venue was a great choice for this hour of variety shows…why? More on that to come.
First out on the stage was Florence Fable with a Burlesque, strip tease number that definitely got the crowd going! Meg Hickey’s unique, honestly haunting vocals were next - coupled with another strip tease, Meg is a versatile performer and what I have seen in looking up more of her work definitely makes me want to see more from Meg - more singing and some piano accordion please! Adam was next with a comedic and raunchy performance and Memphis Mae wrapped up the solo performances with a Burlesque circus number and tricks with a balloon that I’ll be trying to work out for time to come!
All of the solo acts were very good individually but my only critique of this line up show would be that more variety would make this a more engaging hour. Every act stripping down to pasties did get repetitive.
Unquestionably the stand out of the line up, Polly and Esther, another live singing drag duo all the way from Cardiff, stole the show with their chaos and comedy, but also with their clever popular song choices. Starting with a spot of ABBA (who doesn’t love ABBA!), the two had such a great connection with the audience from the get go with a clear sense of fun and a relatable song choice. Now remember when I mentioned it was a real scorcher of a day…well, it didn’t take long for Polly Amorous to ditch the heals, and perform the second half of their act from inside that swimming pool that takes up part of the stage. Esther Parade held off for as long as possible but somewhere in the middle of singing Pink Pony Club, couldn’t resist and jumped in as well.
The chaos was spectacular!
And this brings it back to the fabulousness of our hosts, Jens and Iva, who, rather than worrying about the chaotic turn of events for this show, jumped right in on the joke - Iva, standing statuesque in a stunning fluro green dress holding 2 towels in one corner of the stage, whilst Jens, in some ungodly inch stilettos, grabbed a mop and chased them around the stage with it. Jens’ comedic facial expressions and great timing MADE this moment. The four of them together, cleaning, singing, laughing and just having a great time was the absolute highlight of the show.
Although, as mentioned, the variety line up needed a bit more variety, I would not hesitate in grabbing another ticket to The Cabaret Hour whenever it is next on and I hope to see this dynamic duo take the concept on the road to more cities and more festivals.
They are fantastic hosts and worked the room so well!
