1998 SYDNEY CABARET CONVENTION - NIGHT 5

Please note, this program is not sponsored by the MABEL MERCER FOUNDATION, and should not be confused with that organization's annual Cabaret Convention held each year in New York City.

As we approached the final night of the Showcase phase of the 1988 SYDNEY CABARET CONVENTION the tension and excitement was clearly being felt by many of us "die hard" in the house. The judging of the talent will probably give all of us some clue as to what the organisers really believe is the definition of "cabaret." LANA CANTRELL and James Thane, a local producer, are involved in the selection of the act that will be flown to the Big Apple to perform in the NEW YORK CABARET CONVENTION in October. Last year MARGI DI FERRANTI won the prize and went to NYC. In addition to this prize, an additional award is being made of a one week cabaret season at one of the local venues and a cash gift ($500). And so the tension was in the air.

Tonight's line-up provided a higher overall level of performance and less eccentric choice of acts. The acts that were on view were more mainstream and contained some real thrills. Among the highlights were deliciously funny comedy from Jackie Loeb (a wicked Streisand satire and a side-splitting routine that was brilliant), Paul Griffith (a baritone with a "club act" feel who did a stunning rendition of "These Foolish Things", showing us that he knew more than a thing or two about cabaret), Julie West (who enchanted us with a misty version of "I've Got a Crush on You" to demonstrate how potent old standards can be). All these folks seemed to be let down by their choice of opening numbers, but each distinguished with knock-out quiet closing renditions.

And then there were three fantastic acts that were clearly in the running for prize consideration: POT POURRI, KERRY-ELLA and COLLIN SALTER. POT POURRI is a quintet of young classically-trained musicians (a standard quartet and pianist) who perform opera, musical comedy and parody material with knock-out precision, elegant musicianship and staging that was witty and fast-paced. KERRY-ELLA is a performer in the "big barroom broad" class who has worked hard to perfect a style that is big in every sense. She did part of her one-woman show STORM IN A D CUP and if this chunk of it is representative, the show must be a knock-out. Her delivery is sharp, with good patter and a big voice that she is not afraid to use in selling the material. COLLIN SALTER is a polished entertainer in the "Peter Allen piano man" tradition with enough energy to light up Sydney in a power crisis. His act lifted the energy level of the night and closed the showcase portion of the night. A real crowd pleaser.

The act that really had the audience transported to the magic realms of CabaretLand was MAREE JOHNSON. Ms Johnson has learned many lessons from working in musical comedy as lead in WEST SIDE STORY, MY FAIR LADY and PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Her voice is crystal-clear, her tone and technique are impeccable and her choice of music demonstrated that she is a distinguised cabaret performer. She opened with special material, but finished with a haunting rendition of "Your Daddy's Son" from RAGTIME and for a moment, the earth stood still. This is high art and she is high on the list of many to win one of the prizes.

The night concluded with another dynamite performance from the incomparable JUDI CONNELLI. Happily she is no longer the best-kept secret of Australian Cabaret. Her star turn once again reminded me of what that elusive quality of cabaret is really about, that sense that we are being invited into a "moment" of the performer's life that is precious, passionate and high-distilled.

The late night show RISQUE consisted of 6 acts doing very adult-themed material. All of it was wildly funny, but certainly not in consideration for more mainstream consideration. And so we all left the Lower Town Hall at 1 am exhausted, but thrilled. The finale is next and will be my last report, along with the names of the winners. As they say, "watch this space."

David Schwartz

Click here for Daily Reports on the 1999 Sydney Cabaret Convention

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