Categories: Reviews

Adelaide Cabaret Festival Variety Gala

Simon Burke performs at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival Gala 2011

There was certainly a sense of anticipation and ‘event’ about the opening of the 11th annual Adelaide Cabaret Festival at the Festival Theatre. Complete with red carpet arrivals, TV cameras and many recognisable faces, it’s as glitz and glam as Adelaide gets and we certainly love a big party!

The packed Festival Theatre crowd were welcomed by outgoing artistic director, David Campbell and the show opened with MC, Simon Burke showcasing his musical talents in ‘All You Need is Love’ from Chicago with backup dancers from Drag!

A tasting plate of the Festival, the Variety Gala is perfect for any punters who aren’t quite sure which shows they want to see in full – kind of like movie trailers in live performance form. And there was plenty to attract a crowd with morsels from Robyn Archer, Toby Francis, Daniel Boys, The Magnets, Gillian Cossgriff, Glenn Shorrock, Carrie Rawlings and more. Even the young performers in High School Cabaret got a chance to give a preview of their workshopping with David Campbell and Matthew Carey.

Stopping just shy of 1-hour, the gala was a pseudo advert for the festival. The highlight of the night was a rendition of ‘You’re Nothing Without Me’ (from City of Angels) with some mock rivalry between Simon Burke (pictured) and David Campbell reminding us all of their roots and their musical theatre skills.

Of course the Gala would not have been complete without the headline act, Olivia Newton John, again taking advantage of the talents of the Drag! cast as back-up dancers, proving she’s still got the chops to attract us to Xanadu one more time.

So into the wintery cold we go, with a tune on our lips and a few extra tickets bought at the box office. It’s a great time to be at the Festival Centre in Adelaide!

One night only, 10 June 2011
www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au

Hayley Horton

Hayley was an arts worker in South Australia for twelve years working freelance for small to medium clients as well as for companies such as the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, State Theatre Company SA, Urban Myth Theatre of Youth and the Australia Business Arts Foundation. As part of her freelance work, Hayley founded the ATG Curtain Call Awards (which is now an annual gala event), co-produced three 24 Hour Show charity fundraiser events, has judged for the Adelaide Fringe Festival and reviewed for Aussie Theatre and the Adelaide Theatre Guide. Hayley now runs a boutique events and arts management business, Footlight Events and in her spare time, is involved with Adelaide’s amateur theatre community as a producer, performer and director.