F E S T I VA L C A B A R E T | Reviews
HELP! I THINK I MIGHT BE FABULOUS Sequinned and uplifting foray into the world of the drag prince ●●●●●
As the son of a drag queen, Alfie Ordinary lives a truly fabulous life. Decked out in sequins and a platinum bowl cut, sparkly backpack and keyboard in tow, he invites the audience to spend an hour with him as he regales entertaining tales about his days at Madame LeCoq’s Prep School for Fabulous Boys. Help! I Think I Might Be Fabulous is an insight into a world where
your teachers encourage you to be your most fabulous self and each assembly begins with a school-wide rendition of 'I Am What I Am'. But with Alfie's ‘muggle-born’ classmate John having to hide his sequinned uniform from his parents every day, the drag prince takes it upon himself to provide some much-needed support so that John doesn't have to be ashamed of who he is.
With the help of Whitney Houston and Bette Midler (as puppets),
and some stunning versions of songs by Sugababes, the Village People and Christina Aguilera, Alfie encourages John to embrace his fabulousness and in turn reveals how important it is to be accepting in a world that doesn't always promote such ideals. Life may be sequinned and full of song for Alfie, but the uplifting
and hilarious stories are matched by truly poignant moments in which we see the impact of being true to yourself regardless of society's limitations. The interlude where Alfie admits to being a fan of football, asking Siri to explain the off-side rule, for example, is a sharp and inventive flipping of the traditional coming out narrative. Spending an hour in Alfie's world is refreshing, with the pressures and restrictions of heteronormativity slipping away as this utterly charming character embodies self-acceptance, inspiring others to do the same. There may be a twist here that, when revealed, adds a touch of sadness to the show, but the overall message is made all the more powerful as a result. (Arusa Qureshi) n Gilded Balloon Rose Theatre, until 25 Aug, 6pm, £9–£10 (£8–£9).
FRISKY & MANNISH’S POPLAB Seasoned cabaret duo apply the scientific method to the top of the pops ●●●●●
JUST DESSERTS Rock-pop hits and delectable sweet treats ●●●●● REUBEN KAYE Whip-smart cabaret from the Australian superstar ●●●●●
This is Frisky and Mannish’s tenth Fringe anniversary, and it shows. From their perfect synchronicity during an improvised jazz rendition of ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, to the slick production of their ‘experiments’, they are pop professionals at the top of their game. Setting out to eradicate ‘tropical house disease’ from the genre (Ed Sheeran is patient zero, naturally), they whisk the audience through a dizzying mash-up of songs past and present, demonstrating a truly encyclopaedic knowledge of pop music. A Fleetwood Mac and ‘The Lonely Goatherd’ mash-up? Sure, why not!
Because most importantly, they make it all sound so good. Laura Corcoran’s vocal prowess is thrilling, transitioning from a bluegrass drawl to scat with ease. Matthew Jones’ comedic timing also remains pitch perfect, spinning new meaning onto old favourites. As they tinker with pop music’s very DNA, some of their findings are genuinely inspiring, paying homage to the greats but also clearly unafraid to have a bit of irreverent fun. Given their track record, the Pop PhD has never been bestowed upon two more deserving acolytes. (Deborah Chu) n Assembly George Square Gardens, until 25 Aug (not 12, 19), £14–£16 (£13–£15).
46 THE LIST FESTIVAL 7–14 Aug 2019
Adelaide-based singer and cook Michelle Pearson returns to the Fringe with her latest effort to combine her two great loves: music and food.
Backed by a four-piece band, Pearson performs
covers of popular songs and shares her musings on a range of topics, from Tinder and unsolicited dick pics, to body image and transitioning into motherhood. Her chosen covers are all over the musical map, including renditions of songs by Shania Twain, 50 Cent and Queen. Pearson’s strikingly beautiful voice is best showcased on her version of Jessie J’s hit about being true to yourself, ‘Who You Are’. An assortment of candy, lemon cupcakes, sour cream mousse and chocolate fudge brownies are distributed to the audience throughout the show. Pearson does a bit of sexy baking using whisks and an electric mixer while singing Britney Spears’ ‘Toxic’, but it’s simply all for show as the desserts have been prepared in advance and are waiting to be enjoyed.
All in all, Just Desserts is a charming, sensual and delicious cabaret that offers some food for thought and makes for the perfect late-night treat after a long day of Fringe-ing. (Megan Forsyth) n Underbelly Cowgate, until 11 Aug, 10.40pm, £15.50 (£14.50).
If you come to Reuben Kaye’s solo show expecting a dose of whimsy, then you should probably just go home. Strutting in with sky-high heels – an outfit he describes as ‘Mum I need to tell you something’ – and a microphone with a Kim Kardashian ponytail, this isn’t cabaret for the faint-hearted. Backed up by his band, the Kaye Holes, it’s a very modern cabaret that makes whip-smart references about everything from Bernini to blow-jobs, as well as putting his stunning pair of pipes on display.
Kaye takes the audience on an unapologetically camp journey through his life growing up as a young, queer, Jewish boy in 90s sports-obsessed Australia. Told through a mix of storytelling, comedy and classic songs with original lyrics, Kaye manages to dive into the personal without ever taking himself too seriously.
Audience interaction is paramount to the show and nobody is safe, especially not if you’re a heterosexual male. Throw in a couple of outfit changes (even the microphone ponytail gets one) and Kaye manages to reclaim the cabaret genre as his own diverse and dangerously addictive brand. (Katharine Gemmell) n Assembly Checkpoint, until 25 Aug (not 7, 21), 9.30pm, £13–£14 (£12–£13).