US based
cabaret diva Lady Rizo makes her Melbourne International Comedy Festival with
her “Apology Tour” show, Red, White and
Indigo. With some dazzling costumes, brilliant song selections and
performances, and some very cheeky banter, Lady Rizo expresses her thoughts on
living in a country that she likens to a bad boyfriend. She spends much of her
time admonishing Donald Trump and humorously referring to him as the Angry
Apricot and Cinnamon Hitler.
Supported by a live band on drums, guitar and bass, her frustration in a country that seems to be alienating minorities is made clear and she encourages those with power to share it with those who do not. She’s also done her homework on Australia’s behaviour, including its treatment of indigenous people and refugees, and uses these to show how perhaps we are not so different to America.
Supported by a live band on drums, guitar and bass, her frustration in a country that seems to be alienating minorities is made clear and she encourages those with power to share it with those who do not. She’s also done her homework on Australia’s behaviour, including its treatment of indigenous people and refugees, and uses these to show how perhaps we are not so different to America.
It’s
an engaging and entertaining performance and a call to action you can’t
say no to. This is all well and good, but in one moment involving an audience
participant, she undoes all this work, which amid the #MeToo movement feels
incredibly inappropriate and insensitive.
Picking a female audience member, the two stand back to back. Lady Rizo instructs she will recite a short Russian song and on the count of three, they’ll turn their heads. If they face the same way, they’ll kiss. If they don’t, they won’t. They don’t twice but that doesn’t stop Lady Rizo from almost forcing a kiss upon the woman. The woman resists to which Lady Rizo jokingly asks if she has her consent and plants a kiss on her lips. Did I mention the whole time they were back to back, Lady Rizo made a point of firmly grabbing the woman’s ass?
It’s not fair to judge Red, White and Indigo based on one awkward act. By ignoring that kiss, the show is a very fun and intelligent look at the world on a whole, but the effects of that moment lingered uncomfortably in the air. Lady Rizo may talk and sing about spreading love and respect to everyone, but maybe she needs to take a leaf out of her own book.
Picking a female audience member, the two stand back to back. Lady Rizo instructs she will recite a short Russian song and on the count of three, they’ll turn their heads. If they face the same way, they’ll kiss. If they don’t, they won’t. They don’t twice but that doesn’t stop Lady Rizo from almost forcing a kiss upon the woman. The woman resists to which Lady Rizo jokingly asks if she has her consent and plants a kiss on her lips. Did I mention the whole time they were back to back, Lady Rizo made a point of firmly grabbing the woman’s ass?
It’s not fair to judge Red, White and Indigo based on one awkward act. By ignoring that kiss, the show is a very fun and intelligent look at the world on a whole, but the effects of that moment lingered uncomfortably in the air. Lady Rizo may talk and sing about spreading love and respect to everyone, but maybe she needs to take a leaf out of her own book.
Venue: The Famous Spiegeltent at Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne.
Season: Until 22 April | Tues - Sat 8:45pm, Sun 7:45pm
Length: 70 minutes
Tickets: $40 - 45 Full | $35 - 40 Conc | $35 Tightarse Tuesday
Bookings: MICF website
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