Adelaide Fringe 2016
Velvet
Organised Pandemonium
Genre: Cabaret
Venue: Garden of Unearthly Delights - The Spiegeltent
Festival: Adelaide Fringe
Low Down
Disco lovers unite!
Review
Love disco? Looking to kick up your heels? Then dance the night away at the Adelaide Fringe Festival’s very own Studio 54!
Transport yourself back to the 70s as you enter the Spiegeltent: there’s mirrored balls, coloured lights, pumping music … and oh the sequins and bedazzled Lycra that surrounds you! While I’m too young to remember the 70s, my mum tells me that it was a time when free love ruled and a party centered drug culture brought the world a new type of music … DISCO! And yes, we can all thank the 70s for that!
Who can resist the highly talented Marcia Hines and the stellar cast of Velvet? Without a doubt Hines was her consistent talented self cheered by all us adoring fans when she graced that stage, but every cast member was exceptional! My personal favourites included the hula hoop talents of Craig Reid who was beyond hilarious and took us all by surprise by his amazing skills, and of course the very poetic and powerful ukulele version of Staying Alive by singer/songwriter Brendan Maclean.
The entire cast never miss a beat (thanks to extraordinary drumming by the impressive Joe Accaria) with excellent costume and scene changes that simply amaze you. I lost count at how many times sassy sirens Chaska Halliday and Rechelle Mansour changed costumes … 10 … 15? Credit must be given to the back stage and tech crew who worked superbly in making sure every performer shined!
Director Craig Ilott has done a terrific job fusing this international ensemble of circus, cabaret, and musical talent together. Velvet is entertaining and mesmerising, and certainly takes you into the dark and lustful world of Studio 54 with a few acts that leave you panting and gasping for air.
In what can only be described as a boogie woogie disco party, Velvet should certainly be on everyone’s must see list!
