Ash Flanders is confessedly one confused performer as he struggles to stay optimistic in a society and industry that like to chew people up before spitting them out in an instant. Presented as part of this year's Midsumma Festival, Playing To Win has Flanders - in a wonderful kitten leotard - holding his cabaret audience hostage as he recalls the lowlights and the lower-lights of being in said industry, resulting in an evening of great songs and engaging storytelling.
For the most part, Flanders draws on his own personal experiences with fame
and success - including a tragically hilarious story involving Ashton
Kutcher and Brittany Murphy - but he also looks at the idolisation of
reality TV star celebrities, particularly those who are famous for no
discernible reasons. His send-up of Gina Liano's "Gina" perfume ad is a
great touch in emphasising his frustrations of slipping down the black
hole of failure.
