Thursday 21 September 2017

Cabaret Slumber Party - Melbourne Fringe Festival review

Andrew Iles is stuck at that in-between stage of being an adolescent and being an adult. So the best way to figure it all out it to have a slumber party and sing about it. Combining storytelling, stand-up and some very cheesy dance moves, Iles attempts to get a grasp on what being an adult is all about in his new show Cabaret Slumber Party.

While the show has an air of fun to it, there needs to be a stronger, more cohesive story and an emphasis on how these all tie together to form a bigger picture. At times, Cabaret Slumber Party feels more like a stand-up routine as we hear joke after joke with cheesy punch-lines that seem to act as a shield in letting Iles show too much vulnerability, especially when he is talking about his absent father during his childhood or losing his virginity.

His serenading to his first celebrity crush is quite entertaining though and his choice of well-known songs in which he fashions new lyrics to, show some creativity but feel unfinished. Some stage design or props to signify Iles' bedroom would have helped immensely in setting the scene for the show instead of just having Iles on stage with nothing but a microphone. The show ends quite abruptly and the audience is not quite sure if it's indeed over until the sound and lighting technician informs us that we can leave.

There are some good elements to Cabaret Slumber Party and Illes works hard to build rapport with the audience, but as a whole it does require further work and consideration in choosing the stories he wants to tell and telling them honestly in order to build a stronger relationship with the audience and provide a fun experience for everyone.

Show Information 

Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne 
Season: until 1 October | Mon - Sun 10:00pm 
Length: 60 minutes 
Tickets: $32 Full | $28 Conc 
Bookings: Melbourne Fringe Festival

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