On a balmy Friday night, The Melbourne Fringe has upped-its-ante. As I await to enter its famed Archive room to see Adore Händel’s latest instalment, ‘Adore Händel Birthday Party: Little Black Book Vol. 3’, I am greeted in the foyer by characters walking around in costume: a life-sized lobster encased in glitterati and a death-defying clown in gothic garb, preparing me for a night of theatrical otherworldly-ness.
A sold out evening. A 60-seat theatre. A high-ceiling room – one side laden with tall grey architraves. The other?With pencil-lined burgundy stencilling on the walls. The scene unfolding? I am a guest at the birthday party of Adore Händel, no less. A spectacle-inducing,18th century time-travelling Baroque performer, who is turning 269 years old.
But age is only a number. For in the span of an hour, I am transported to the world of Adore, conceived by Melbourne-based baritone Luke Bell. Where, like an 18th century rock star, he bursts upon the stage singing ‘Sweet time traveller’, laden in the theatrical brilliance of maximalist European court hair, makeup and fancy-pants, party-hearty costuming. Think ornate embellishments. Luxe ribboning. Puffed-up hot and light pink organza sleeves with gold detailing.
And… a larger-than-life, quick-witted personality to match.
The scene I have entered? Adore’s annual birthday fest, where with a flourish-and-a-disney-ditty, plans to launch his little black book documenting a plethora of scandalous dalliances that he has kept a secret, until now.
Proudly singing the “Toreador Song” from Carmen, Adore boasts about the excitement, danger, and glory of his past lovers and ill-advised rendezvous, lost in a bullring of scandal and bon-vivant desire, much to the audiences delight.
But alas? This rapturous little book has disappeared. Sheepish and embarrassed, Adore frantically tries to contact Peter, his long-time assistant, while giving us a dramatic rendition of Queen’s ‘The show must go on’, despite these sets of most unfortunate circumstances.
And so, Adore is on a mission, to rescue his prized possession and set out to capture the unsuspecting wrongdoer of this heinous, unforgiving crime.
Paranoid as an unraveled-pearl-torn-from-its-seam, Adore interacts with the audience to see if they were indeed the culprit – as he searches for means, motive and opportunity.
Hilarity ensues as Adore peeps out at us like a crime-solving Sherlock Holmes. A microscope is shone across our faces. Suspiciously searching with mild interrogation as to who has stolen his prized possession, time is fleeting by. Without a clue to stand on, and desperate for some answers, Adore thinks that perhaps the shifty culprit may be linked to one of his past lovers.
With misty-eyed recollections, brilliantly scripted by Hannah Belle, Adore then sings ‘Bring on the men’, and does the unthinkable – daring to take us on a journey back to his time-travelling past. To surprisingly unveil the stories of three seperate ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ – that may unmask the identity of this high-octane thievery.
And thus, we are taken on a cart-ride of Cinderella-like proportions. From a fiery 18th century ball in Venice; to a late 1930’s horse-riding heist in the American West; to a pop record-deal gone wrong, we are indeed on the case of this mad whodunnit.
But it is Luke Bell who truly steals this show with his tremendous collection of hilarious antics and standout vocal gymnastics. A rendition of a testosterone-fuelled Johnny Cash song, ‘Ring Of Fire’, that rouses the audience to laugh and clap alongside him. His beautifully baritone voice cutting through with deep resonance during ‘Cry Me A River’, with misty-eyed, emotional substance. His instrumental talents of playing a kazoo, and finally, having a glass of Chardonnay while blowing a party blower out as a cigarette. No pun intended.
In all, this Cabaret-style show, lovingly produced by Lydia Keulsen, has sass, style and bawdy humour all rolled-into-one, purely for those of us who just want to be entertained at the highest level. If you love campy wit, a rumpy-bumpy storyline, standout operatic singing and tight-as-a-corset choreography, then this striking show is for you.
To book tickets to Adore Händel’s Birthday Party: Little Black Book Vol. 3, please visit https://www.melbournefringe.com.au/whats-on/events/adore-haendels-birthday-party.
Photographer: Bri Hammond
