Confessions of a Control Freak

“I want it all – I want it now” – put that on your to do list!

Belinda Raisin plays Frances, an over-committed control freak who loves a to-do list like a monk loves to meditate. Unravelling the conundrum of the contemporary life, Frances mixes timetables, yoga, alcohol, roller blading, dance and song into a crazy cocktail of a cabaret.

This totally relatable cabaret is enjoying a return season (and Queensland tour), after it’s successful run last year in Melbourne, Adelaide, and a pre-sold-out season in Brisbane.

With Musical Direction and Composition by Jen Teh, and Creative Consultation by Alison St Ledger, the show mixes some original numbers with pop songs a-la cabaret style, full of musical puns, showcasing Raisin’s comedic talents and versatile singing voice.

The set was aptly crowded for a cabaret about getting organised, with a filing cabinet, set of drawers, a fridge, more than a few bottles of vino, a list of props, lists of lists, and a piano. The additional use of two hanging projector screens helped us count through the confessions and aided in some visual gags about her beloved pets.

With an intimate audience in a cabaret setting, Raisin is completely comfortable up on stage, and has both the vocal chops and comedic timing to captivate the audience for a full sixty minute solo show. Her honest, unpretentious approach allows her physical comedy to be awkwardly hilarious.

The surprise start with Raison donning a pair of pointe shoes allowed the audience to add another tick on the talent chart as we settled in, knowing that this highly accomplished woman was going to deliver a very polished show. Sitting in a hypothetical therapists chair, and being a former dancer myself, it may also subconsciously be foreshadowing where all that control freakishness came from. I mean, what disciplined ballet dancer isn’t?

But the best surprise was left till the curtain call when Belinda accompanied blind pianist and composer Jamie Teh to take his bow – what a marvel this talented musician is. Special mention goes to the looped mash-up in the last song – this kind of musical creativity is genius.

Playing at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Performing Arts until Thursday 17 July, be sure to put “buy tickets” on the top of your to-do list before your time runs out.

Other tours dates for QLD are as follows:

BYRON BAY: Byron Theatre – 18th July 2014. Book tickets>>
TOOWOOMBA: The Church, Empire Theatre – 23rd July 2014. Book tickets>>
MILES: The Leichardt Centre – 24th July 2014
DALBY: Dalby Civic Centre – 25th July 2014. Book tickets>>
GOLD COAST: The Basement, Gold Coast Arts Centre – 26th July 2014. Book tickets>>
POMONA: The Majestic Theatre – 2nd August 2014. Book tickets>>