York and pianist Tim Solly cleverly take a number of well-known songs, change the lyrics and create new musical numbers that provide the audience with a sense of familiarity and also allow for an anticipation to flow through the room as to what song will be next. Ace of Base's "All That She Wants" becomes a song about needing a baby to feel complete and a cheeky spot of rapping hilariously exposes the harsh truths of famous nursery rhymes and their characters, including Georgie Porgie and his predatory ways.
Her touching tribute to her mother with Robert Flack's "First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" is beautifully sung with emotion and openness, but its place did feel slightly off given the tone of the show and everything that had been discussed up until this point. It did however display York's amazing versatility as a singer and showcased a voice that can captivate an audience.
Throughout Adulting, York shares her personal attempts at adulting and encourages the audience to share theirs. One such moment, in which we are asked what we wanted to be when we were younger and what job we have now, results in York performing an improvised song of dreams of being a veterinarian turning into the reality of being a social worker.
Adulting isn't a show that provides solutions on how to be a good adult, because as York explains, there is no universal answer. While we should strive to be the best person we can be, we shouldn't judge ourselves too harshly for eating too many nuggets or racking up parking fines that we'll be paying back for decades. If everyone took a page out of York's book - or went to see this excellent show - maybe we'd be a bit happier and accepting with how our lives are.
Click here for my interview with Tash York.
Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place, Melbourne
Season: until 22 April | Fri - Sun 7.00pm
Length: 60 minutes
Tickets: $32 Full | $28 Conc
Bookings: MICF website
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