Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett is salacious, saucy and scintillating. Dieter’s phenomenal vocal range and control underpins the entire evening; the risqué lyrics, the backing songs for some artist, the torch song and the rousing finale.
She controls both the stage and the audience, incorporating them into her act.
The other artists are equally thrilling. What seems so simple – the pole dance, the aerialists and hoops – are not just seductive but true displays of physical dexterity. There is a strength and control behind some of these performances that is breathtaking. What is conventionally labelled crude is given credence because of the performer’s skill.
The wickedness of Sugar de Joure eviscerating the audience with her wit makes you wish for abuse. The grace of Reed Kelly and Jack Dawson performing an aerial pas de deux would have Newton redefining gravity.
The physical power of Blue Phoenix on the pole stretches our imaginations when we consider what the body is capable of achieving and the nude is elevated, literally, beyond any sense of prudery as Fancy Chance flies above the audience tethered by her hair.
As with all cabarets, the performance line-up can change during the season. There being no program, there are two performers whose names I haven’t been able to find. One breathed fire while the other mesmerised with his control of simple hoops. Again, the juxtaposition of grace, skill, beauty and raw power astonished.
Behind them all was a band that maintained the atmosphere that effortlessly built as the audience arrived, rose to a crescendo when needed, never distracted, but filled out the evening.
The Spiegeltent setting is a perfect forum with private booths, ringside seats and a stage thrusting out into the audience.
Club Kabarett not only features at this year’s Melbourne Fringe but will be remembered.
Performance Details: Until October 30
Dates and Times: Oct 26, 27 at 7.30pm; Oct 28, 29 at 7.15pm; Oct 30 at 7.30pm.
Venue: Spiegeltent, Queen Victoria Market, Queen St., Melbourne
Duration: 1hr. 40 mins.
From $50 to $100
Bookings:9660 9600 or https://melbournefringe.com.au
Review by David McLean