The Variety Gala

Described by Artistic Director Alan Cumming as a ‘smorgasbord of talent’, the Cabaret Festival opening event, The Variety Gala, a world premiere, may be equally well described as a Forrest Gump glamorous ‘box of chocolates’, or the exciting array of Christmas parcels under the tree that we cannot wait to open and enjoy.

Directed by Mitchell Butel and hosted by Adelaide’s ‘king of sequins’, Hans (pictured at top, photo by Claudio Raschella), the event gave tantalizing tastes, some sweet, some nutty and all that left you wanting more.  Each with its unique ‘wrapping’, we were treated to both new and old Cabaret Festival stars including Alan Cumming, Meow Meow, Paul Capsis, Brendan Maclean, Trevor Ashley, Bob Downe and Anne Wills, James Galea, Michael Griffiths, Amber Martin, The Sisters of Invention, Mama Alto, Steph Tisdell, and Jan van de Stool.

There was razzle, dazzle, clever, and also cheap laughs, and a real sense of Adelaide celebrating the opening of one of its most beloved festivals. Originally Cumming planned to mine his New York club and scour the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for cabaret talent; instead, in COVID times, he has drawn on almost exclusively Australian performers that he has met in the 32 years since his own first performance here in a show at the Festival Centre. It must be said that this did not dampen the gravitas of this three hour show, and undoubtedly this is a great omen for the Cabaret Festival season. Adelaide turned out in all of its finery with the theatre appearing to be full to capacity. As is tending to be the case in Adelaide, the show started late, but the excited buzz was palpable and the welcome to country, done by Isaac Hannam, was a beautiful live piece done with a didgeridoo.

Image: Steph Tisdell - Photo by Monica Pronk

The band, under the musical direction of Mark Simeon Ferguson was joyous and a perfect accompaniment to each act. The set was a 40s style glamorous club, obviously providing a ‘nod’ to Cumming’s club that is one of the much-anticipated features of this festival. Tables were laid out with gold topped cloths and the backdrop was suspended chandeliers on the ruched curtaining. At each of the tables were the night’s celebrity performers. It must be said, that whilst not credited in the program, the lighting was excellent, not just on each of the performers, but also used to make the stage look continuously refreshed and chic.

Cumming took little time to declare the festival open and in company with Hans, gave the audience what has become his signature tune, ‘Willkommen‘. Strategically placing himself behind the bar with Tom, the very busy barman, he took a very discrete role, allowing Hans and the parade of performers to shine.

Trevor Ashley is well known for inhabiting the persona of musical celebrities and during the night, as Liza Minelli, complete with her signature sibilance, delivered two numbers which the audience loved. True to the variety of cabaret, magician James Gallea, accompanied by a volunteer audience member, bamboozled us all with a clever sleight of hand card trick cleverly partnered with song and clever, self-effacing dialogue. The performance was truly ‘magic’.

Image: Mama Alto (photographer Alexis Desaulniers-Lea).

Mama Alto has a truly unique stylized voice, and looking like a 1940’s ‘siren’, sang a very different arranged version of ‘The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face’ with the stage lit as a sultry nightclub. This was followed by musical therapist turned psychic, Jan van de Stool, whose deadpan comedy and surprising singing talent was a delightful, witty interlude.

Stef Tisdell, an indigenous woman, delivered biting humour in her stand-up routine, and her jokes about ‘ladies’ parts’ were a hit with both men and women alike. It was exciting to see the Tutti, Sisters Of Invention quartet. Proudly disabled, their music is powerful, and moving, and we were encouraged to hear more at their concert later in the season.

Appropriately, for such an important event, we were treated by a visit from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth (aka Gerry Connelly). His, oops, her droll, pithy humour was a standout and a welcome boost perhaps for the currently beleaguered Royal family.

Hometown favourite Michael Griffiths wooed and wowed with an Annie Lennox song, and Bob Downe, Anne Wills and Hans did a witty generational sendup of generational wheels as they belted out ‘Xanadu’ with Willsy – who is proudly 70 plus GST – in gold sequined hotpants and a sparkling walker.

It was a special night for Paul Capsis whose rendition of two songs, one being John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’, was a haunting nod to his unique voice, but the awarding of the 2021 Cabaret Icon Award was a highlight for him, and Australian talent.

Image: Paul Capsis

Performers like Brendan Maclean, from L‘Hotel, remind us that we have world class talented performers. His movement and singing during ‘If You Disappear’ rendered the audience silent; you could ’hear a pin drop’. We all waited for barefoot Tim Minchin, and he did not disappoint. Appearing to create on the spot, he shared one of his beautiful and unique songs to a fully engaged and eager audience. Not to be thwarted by COVID, much to the delight of the audience, Meow Meow Zoomed her witty, multi-faceted performance in. Again, it was a unique piece.

Renowned for her Janis Joplin tribute shows, Amber Martin, who this festival has a Bette Midler theme, came to this event from the USA. Her song ‘Bermuda’ gave her the scope to display her musical talents and soaring voice.

As host, Hans, accompanied by two scantily garbed athletic boys, twinkled and spangled his heart out, chatting to the audience, planting innuendos, and blatantly strong language, that would make a sailor twitch; but the audience adored him, and he was a fitting host for this prestigious event.

If The Variety Gala is any indication, Adelaide theatre goers should dust off their suits, fluff up their faux furs and prepare themselves for a fabulous festival that has shows of many genres full of glittering talent.

Jude Hines

Read more Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2021 reviews