Michael Griffiths: It’s a Sin – Songs of Love and Shame

Michael Griffiths has been delighting Adelaide Fringe audiences for 10 years, with a plethora of shows paying homage to Madonna, Peter Allen and Annie Lennox, just to name a few. He has an incredible knack for reinventing himself and keeping his shows fresh. His charm, stage presence, and talent have made him a popular cabaret performer and accompanist, both here and abroad. 

On a hot Friday Autumn night in the air-conditioned tent of the Spiegel Zelt, Griffiths took us on a journey through his life, with an incredible soundtrack inspired by 80s English pop-duo The Pet Shop Boys. Griffiths, accompanied on stage by the equally talented Dylan Paul on Double Bass and Julian Ferraretto on Fiddle, filled the space with old favourites, such as “It’s a Sin”, “Rent”, “Suburbia” and “Love Comes Quickly”. Fresh arrangements of old anthems are what Griffiths does best, teamed with his own coming out story. He shows us the important and healing part music has played through his life. 

Transparent in his depiction of the challenges of being a gay boy from suburbia, his humour masks a sensitive time where being gay was met with fearmongering, when the AIDS epidemic spread through the community. Not one to dwell, he quickly tells of his own love story with a sweet sincerity. 

Griffiths has a gift of making an audience feel appreciated. His enthusiasm for his craft is infectious and I found myself wanting more. With a week left of the season, I highly recommend you put this show on your dance card.  

Kerry Cooper

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