Not Another Indie Cabaret

Deconstruction of the cabaret form can potentially result in a clever and daring presentation, but it can also be leaned upon lazily as the ticket to ‘hipster credibility’. Jessamae St James’ show doesn’t quite rise or sink to either of these extremes; what we get with Not Another Indie Cabaret, is, sadly, just another indie cabaret - albeit one with appearances by an Omnichord and a trumpet kazoo, which are not enough to make this show a special experience.

That being said, there is no doubt that St James is blessed with special qualities, and a number of them make their presence felt in this show; she has a splendid voice, and in the best moments here, she puts it to stunning and stirring use – though she also interrupts herself, far too often, in order to make a spoken attempt at wry observation that isn’t really worth either the effort or the distraction from her inherent musicality. The deft use of a looping station adds dimension and texture to the sound – and, at times, to the emotional content - but cannot compensate for the mostly missing ‘meat’ of this show.

‘Fessing up’ to life-skill shortfalls may be becoming a familiar young-adult trope of cabaret and stand-up comedy, but it can still hit its target if you have the right words, the right audience, and the right timing. In St James’ case, her perspective and analysis are relatable to a certain degree, but her selection of topics and references feels haphazard, and her observations feel too familiar to be terribly funny, while attempting to spice things up with expletives is a misfired tactic.

Self-referential irony and rampant self-deprecation may form a fantastic basis for certain shows out there, but not this one. There may be some performers who can succeed all the way with a stage persona built on childish naiveté, but this aspect gets gradually tiresome here, and the absence of sustained sincerity is not a style that St James has been able to build a solid hour-long presentation out of.

The highlight of the material here is definitely the segment addressing a life lived gluten-free; St James gets to the point and hits the nail on the head while making us laugh and cringe in exactly the way she means us to. It’s a blast of refreshing catharsis, and mines a particular vein of personal anecdote that this performer would do well to explore further in future shows. Combine that with an increased, unembarrassed emphasis on her sparkling set of vocal chords, and then she may really have a winner on her hands…

The question constantly posed here by our star: What’s ‘indie’? Reviewer’s response: What does it matter? With a voice like hers, Jessamae St James should be past wondering (let alone worrying) about such trivialities as labels. This performer seems to possess the ability and the potential – as well as the desire - to make not just another indie cabaret. She seems like such a nice person that it’s easy to hope for her dream to be realised in the future.

Anthony Vawser

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