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STAGE - Cabaret Festival Variety Gala Performance
Festival Theatre

DIANA CARROLL - Reviewer
INDAILY - 12.6.12

WHAT a wonderful night! It was like Adelaide's very own Royal Variety Performance. The official opening night event for the 2012 Cabaret Festival was billed as "the ultimate cabaret showcase" and it didn't disappoint.

Hosted by festival artistic director Kate Ceberano and Broadway veteran Mark Nadler, this was a glittering showcase of the talent on offer this year. The Adelaide Art Orchestra, under the superb direction of Vanessa Scammell, showed their versatility throughout the program.

Every performance was a hit, but a few were exceptional. Illusionist Cosentino was just magical; comedian Eddie Perfect was in the groove with his hilarious diatribe against lycra-clad cyclists cluttering up the streets and filling up the coffee shops; singer Kim Smith showed all the pizzazz and polish of a real star; the agile and acrobatic boys of Boylesque shimmered in their red hot pants; and musician Zoe Keating brought radical new life to the cello. Justin Burford channelled the musical angst of Kurt Cobain, and singers Angela Harding, Eden Espinosa, Debra Byrne, Clare Bowditch and Lea Salonga all showed their cabaret flair. The final number was given over to The Class of Cabaret, a group of enthusiastic high school students from around Adelaide.

The absolute star of the show was Mary Wilson, one of the original Supremes, here to sing Lena Horne – one great star paying tribute to another. The voice, the dress, the on-stage presence: Mary Wilson showed us what cabaret is all about.

There were the usual technical problems with mis-cued spots and powered-off mics. There were also bizarre moments when Ceberano appeared to forget her lines and miss her marks – why was she still talking from behind the curtain? She may be a great singer but she's no MC. As for the festival she has curated, there are some class acts but overall it's a very conservative program.

The Variety Gala was a great opening to the 2012 Cabaret Festival.

ENDS.