Philip Quast Uncut

An afternoon with an old friend. That’s the way the performance by Philip Quast felt in his Adelaide Cabaret Festival show Philip Quast Uncut. From the moment we hear a disembodied whistle and his approaching beautiful tones singing “The Gypsy Rover”, as an audience, we are along for the ride. It was clear there was much affection in the room for this homegrown star. He made the local audience feel special by even singing a rendition of “Adelaide’s The Home For Me”from On The Wallaby by Nick Enright.

The choices for this show are very eclectic and each celebrates different moments in Quast’s career or the loves of his life. He shares stories with us so comfortably, so openly and with such emotion, that we are engrossed and feel his highs and lows. He is accompanied on piano by his fellow NIDA lecturer and friend, Anne Maree Mc Donald- an astoundingly talented performer.

The Dunstan Playhouse holds a special place for Quast as it was here he first performed onstage some forty years ago as a naked Adam in The Wakefield Mystery Plays. He recounts this story jovially of his ‘appearance’ on stage being the motivation behind the titling of this cabaret show- you work it out. The ‘naked theme’ then segues beautifully into a rollicking version of “The Emperor’s new clothes”.

There are moments when Quast is visibly emotional and almost moved to tears as he reminisces of times past and friends lost. There is a sense of reverence and gratitude- something not often seen in performers of today.

Quast talks openly about growing old, of thinking about his father and of coming to the decision that he has done his last Broadway show. His armchair-sung piece “I like old people”and a grippingly moving version of a song written for his own farmer father called “My Father’s Hands”made the room silent. We shared in his memories, in his appreciation of this man and his acceptance of growing old; although Quast makes no bones about being ‘of an age’ where he now ‘says what he thinks’. Admirable.

Quast talks with great affection of his time (17 years) working on Play School and shares anecdotes from this time-even encouraging us all to our feet to join in a rousing rendition of “Wiggly Woo”. As a mum who had spent many hours with a cup of tea in hand and toddlers on lap, watching him on tv, this was a joyful trip down memory lane.

He drops the occasional name, with whom he has worked, which run like a roll call of the most incredible performers and composers of our time- Audra Mc Donald, Imelda Staunton, Bryn Terfel and Stephen Sondheim to name a few. It is clear each has left a small part of themselves imprinted in Quast’s heart and he delights us with pieces from Follies, a medley from Rogers and Hammerstein- including a personal favourite which made this reviewer sob- “Soliloquy” from Carousel. It was however his rendition of “Stars” from Les Misérables that the audience had been hoping for, and we weren’t disappointed. His powerful baritone voice belted out this favourite with passion that surged into us, causing an immediate rise of all to their feet in applause. Stunning.

This was a wonderful afternoon. I felt privileged to have spent this time with Philip Quast. He made me feel like he loved having us there, wanted to share his life with us and give us some of his very best stories and songs. It was special and intimate, and an afternoon not easily forgotten.

Shelley Hampton

Photographer: Kate Williams

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