Babushka Regifted

If the sight of festive green and red is giving you blurred vision and you’re already crazed with the ear-worms of merry musak, go full Grinch and release your inner Scrooge – but do so with like-minded people as you hum along to an alternative Christmas list as the Babushka Cabaret team take to the stage. Babushka performers and writers, Alicia Cush, Laura Coutts and Judy Hainsworth are gorgeously be-sequined – with some cheeky costume changes throughout. This multi-talented trio entertain with ease at comedy and cabaret, but the key to their success is their dazzling vocal talents that can tackle all forms from pop to opera. As the overwhelmed couple sitting next to me said: “These girls can sing ANYTHING!” OK, there will be some Christmas tunes – but not as you know them ... and you might need to take care afterwards that you don’t slip the Babushka lyrics into the mix at the family sing-along, work party or community carols! Yes, these girls are irreverent, and their cheeky takes on some smashing tunes are highly entertaining. 

Green Day’s ‘Wake me up when September ends’ becomes the merrily mournful ‘Wake me up when December ends’. And Nick Cave’s ‘Red Right Hand’ sees jolly old Santa take on a sinister bent. A immaculately conceived Madonna medley adds an element of girl power that continues as old standards ‘Good King Wenceslas’ and ‘We Three Kings of Orient Are’ get a more enlightened makeover. There’s also some gentle audience participation with the option to sing along or participate in the Babushka version of Seinfeld’s Festivus to air your grievances for the chance to open the gigantic Advent Calendar to win Babushka merch – including my favourite golden prawn earrings (if my Secret Santa is reading this, please take note and check the URL below!) The Festivus exercise was therapeutic – I learned that I’m not the only one to abhor the often feckless scootering in Brisbane’s CBD, or to react in stunned disbelief at Alan Rickman’s choice of ‘that tart’ over Emma Thompson in perennial cheese-fest, Love Actually. I also discovered the game ‘Whamageddon’.

I have to point out the fabulous stage set by Penny Challen, and superb sound quality in the New Benner Theatre – so important for this kind of performance and the musical talents on show. I loved the back-up band, Jake Bristow and the Baby Cheeses, who added real jazz and groove with their elegant combo of keyboard, drums and bass guitar/double bass. Jake is stunningly versatile on the keys and even got to show off his vocal chops as he and Judy gave ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ a comic twist – rather than desperately trying to get Judy to stay, Jake can’t wait to get rid of her after she’s outstayed her welcome. The almost 100-minute show is neatly broken up with an interval to allow for some Christmas cheer from the bar, and ends on a very strong note with the team’s hilarious version of ‘Milkshake’ by Kelis, only re-tuned to ‘Fruitcake’. And of course ‘Fairytale of New York’ by the Pogues, the one alternative Christmas song that is never tired, especially with this group of performers. Babushka Regifted is a Christmas cracker! This show has girded my loins – and so to the festive season, I say: Bring it on! Ditch the office Christmas bash this year and head to Babushka Regifted instead.

Find out more: https://littlematchproductions.com/babushka-regifted

Beth Keehn

Photos: Penny Challen