Wow! What a yummy treat this cabaret was. I ate it up and didn’t want it to end! Tomàš Kantor sucked us into the story from the get-go with clever use of current pop bangers that we all know, and love. From Chappell Roan to Gaga, the Sugababes and TikTok hits, the music always encapsulated the story in an interesting and unique way. The rollercoaster of emotions throughout was relatable and we were rooting for the very lovable Tomàš as Sugar. Honestly, in this economy, who hasn’t contemplated taking the “easy way out” and becoming a sex worker after watching Pretty Woman. Especially easy to relate to if you’ve ever been a struggling uni student living in a share house.
Tomàš performance of this (as far as I can tell), true story, was powerful, fun and playful. I loved the use of the poppiest of songs arranged in a cabaret format. I died when Prada played. They gave us clever costume, prop and set use, great vocals, dance breaks and played multiple instruments. What a multi-talented and intelligent performer! The characters were all interesting, well-defined and had a point of view. The story was clear. I feel as if this is a show you could see many times and notice new clever intricacies each time. Tomàš and Bullet Heart Club (Ro Bright – show writer & Kitan Petkovski – director) deserve high praise for this!
Don’t be distracted by the sparkles though. Not only was it funny, but there were poignant moments as well. These included some insight into why sex work is often not “easy money.” This is a job which requires incredible sacrifice of self and often places the worker into perilous personal situations where they have no power or recourse for wrongs committed. This window into sugar-babying throws light on some inherent class divides and the power imbalance of these transactional relationships. There was subtle commentary on internalised queerphobia too, and I had goosebumps when they started singing the last song.
The show included considerable (optional) audience participation and use of house lights which made for a very immersive theatre experience. This hooked us in for the ride and made us laugh. Word of warning, if you are uncomfortable with descriptions or portrayals of sex on stage this is maybe not the show for you. However, those who are down, you are in for a thrilling collective release. I was unsure how the audience would react at the Hayes, but they loved it! Tomàš is so charismatic and charming that we feel as if we are a friend getting the tea.
Ultimately, such a fun journey, I laughed and sympathised with Sugar. I would heartily recommend going to see Sugar if you get the chance. This debut cabaret has already won multiple awards, and rightly so, Tomàš is a talent to watch. Look out Edinburgh…
Apologies in advance, I tried to catch as many names of these talented performers as possible but I have definitely missed some and will jumble them up. Homo Grown was an absolute treat! For this queer musical lover, it was like a slice of Heaven.
Host and co-founder of “Home Grown Aus”, Nick Ledger, opened us with Princess by Matthew Lee Robinson. Home Grown Aus, co-founded by Nick and husband Ben Nicholson, is the grassroots movement championing and producing original new works in Australian musical theatre. I actually attended a reading of “Mackenzie” by one my favourite musical theatre writers, Yve Blake, earlier in the week. That was produced by Home Grown and Hayes Theatre.
Our next act was a stunning cameo by Australia’s first female Prime Minister, performed by Mandy Isher. It brought the house down and the energy up to stay.
McBeanie and Hurley then performed a duet based on their musical chronicling the life and times of (very) obscure playwright, Robert Wiseman. This was a cute little back and forth called “The First Time I Met You” and left us with heart eyes for this real life couple.
Powerhouse Carla then took to the stage with “We’ve Got Chemistry” by Jordy Thomas. Those pipes!! Carla has power and presence and a sexy, sultry voice. With this melting “Ooh” that was like liquid chocolate! And I even I understood most of the chemistry puns, despite flunking science! Carla lights up the room and is an artful performer.
Yasheith performed “One Day In September” by Maverick and Cohen, about a closeted football star. Yakeith’s performance was earnest and nuanced, with unique use of dramatic timing. Such a beautiful voice too.
Nick Hedger returned to the stage with a love song for the gamers, nerds and misfits. It was a rock opera style ballad that hit the feels.
Robbie Alexander gave us a taste of the opening of their upcoming musical, warning it would be long and referred to it as their “Bohemian Rhapsody”. It was such a wonderful song that leaves me wanting to watch the whole musical. Charlie is the main character, who just can’t make main character status, so “Other Charlie” steals their limelight. The two Charlies and an ensemble of three delivered this number, with Charlie’s therapist’s voice being absolutely extraordinary!
Nick returned for an homage to Peter Allen which was poignant and touching.
The next was from a musical about netball. The names here got quite muddled for me. I think Sophie Davies and Harry Collins may be the composers. Lauren introduced the mother/daughter duo performance of “Married To Netball” which was absolutely hilarious and both Addie Robinson and Sinead Christado nailed the song.
We then finished with an entirely can’t-possibly-be-human performance by Carla once more. As a singer myself, I was left completely at a loss as to how one voice can do so many things and yet make it look like it’s the simplest thing in the world! I told my Plus One that Carla has to be AI!
It was such a wonderful and joyful hour of celebrating queer musical theatre creatives. I am already a big fan of Home Grown and the work they are doing, and I am so excited to see these upcoming new works and more of these incredible performers. Australia really does have talent!
Madame Martha’s Parisian Cabaret is a campy, quirky, delightful emotional roller-coaster ride, that will hit you in all of the feels, over a truly captivating hour of queer joy.
What better place for my first theatre review than my beloved Old Fitz, which I fell in love with with “Cut Chilli”, and have since frequented as a viewer, and even performed in their “Senseless & Fitz” Shakespeare night. The vibe is funky and atmospheric. The bartender very accommodating of requests for a “lemonade top up” when I realised that Negronis may look cool, but taste rather vile.
The welcome is warm as we enter the theatre. The set is very much in line with Parisian cabaret. Deep burgundies and mixed glass lampshades, doorways adorned with “show lights”. I sit in the second row, knowing all spots in this delightfully intimate theatre are a winner.
Then our beautiful trio enter; graceful, careful, flowing and enchanting as they fill they space with their bodies and soon their harmonic voices. With Meg Hickey having absolutely no limits to what can be achieved with those vocal pipes… and an accordion to boot. Their costumes are gorgeous and each artist moves with their own unique elegance as they dance and sing a rendition of “Bad Guy”.
It becomes clear their physical freedom, poetic exploration and musical gifts feed off the shared talent of the trio and their reverie is only broken by the omnipresent, fearsome watchful eye of “Madame Martha”.
The choreography is stunning. Every movement is full-bodied and intentional. There is a collective heart between this troupe that keeps you captivated, entranced and SAFE as deep themes are tackled through the many facets and layers of “cabaret” with a touch of Vaudeville. Be prepared for tits and tips (well, more than that, but I couldn’t resist the alliteration). The actors bare themselves both literally and figuratively on the stage with full abandon and celebration of their forms.
My eyes filled with tears as Iva Rosebud delivered a deeply moving “What Makes A Man A Man” taking us on a heartfelt musical journey.
Jens Radda is giving “Mother” energy and keeping the three of them connected and intertwined throughout.
The crowd favourite was clearly the extraordinary “Pink Pony Club” where the harmonies slayed, and the audience were ready and rearing when it became clear we could now sing and clap along.
This show lets you all the way in and touches you in deep places. It was a delight!
The promo read: For the first time ever, two of Australia’s finest Elvis tribute artists share the stage for an unforgettable night of music! Charlie Gaylard, the 16-year-old sensation from Colac who’s putting the Elvis world on notice, joins Jack Gatto, the Geelong powerhouse with arguably the best Elvis voice in the world. Backed by the world-renowned Tributes In Concert Band—soon to perform for Elvis Presley Enterprises in Memphis—this two-hour spectacular promises electrifying performances, classic hits, and the ultimate tribute to The King.
Jack Gatto, 29, is a born entertainer; a vocalist, guitarist and drummer, with exceptional versatility; he understudied for The Wiggles. So, yes, even without perfecting his tribute in performing the vocals, charisma and audience interaction of ‘Elvis’, he’s a very accomplished and engaging performer. Unexpectedly, I learn that he’s also a wildlife and zoo reptile keeper, but tonight he dons a blue studded jumpsuit and leaves the crocodile shows behind for something else mesmerizing on stage….ELVIS!
Charlie Gaylard has already got his ETA (Elvis Tribute Artist) career kicking goals (after being inspired by Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 movie – he wasn’t even a fan before seeing it) and he has only been doing this for a year and a half.
At the huge annual Parkes Elvis Festival in January, which I attended, a lady behind me said (as Charlie rolled by in a pink suit in the vintage car street parade), ‘Hubba Hubba Who’s That?’; someone replied ‘It’s Charlie! How can you not know him?’, another said ‘Yeah, he’s the boy Go Charlie!’ LOL – Charlie smiled his perfected Elvis lip and waved back (bonus that he does look alike). These fans were in their 70s, and definitely not the usual fanbase for a 16 year old singer, but next time, given Charlie’s rapidly growing popularity, they may be bringing their grandchildren.
There were apparently (according to my chats with locals) more young people at the NSW Parkes festival this year than any prior and probably same with the growing Geelong Elvis Festival (according to the owner of the motel I stayed at this weekend), and, whilst my daughter (19) was no doubt one of the youngest audience members at this show in Geelong, she is a huge Elvis fan and was singing the words just as well as the grey haired gentleman with a walker aide on the aisle; both of them having a great time.
For two non-stop hours we enjoyed toe tapping tunes, hard-belt lyrics and soft sweetness up there on that stage with banging traditional lighting as good as any nightclub, an extraordinary band and in-theme back-up singers. Along with a bit of comedy from both Jack and Charlie, the crowd loved every second from everyone contributing to the spectacle and the two hours flew by.
My Mum played ‘Elvis’ a lot (she was one of those actual teen fans of his heyday, just like most watching this sold out concert at The Sphinx). I knew pretty much all his music by the time I was 12, thanks Mum! In recreating the love, there were quite a lot of ladies like my Mum eagerly going up for a scarf given out by Jack, just as the real Elvis did for his lucky fans.
My favourite song is and always has been HOUND DOG and tonight was no exception with LOVE ME TENDER a close follow up. I could list a heap of others also that were mind blowingly good; Suspicious Minds, Blue Suede Shoes, Burning Love, etc. etc. each and every one totally authentic; our jaws dropped in disbelief on multiples, “just like watching the real thing” my daughter agreed.
My daughter didn’t once look like she’d had enough, the atmosphere of seeing live music she has discovered is far better than ‘clubbing’. Her faves were LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION by Charlie and the duet rendition of JAILHOUSE ROCK where Charlie and Jack were on stage together for the end of the show.
Throughout the night, every single person of any age around us was smiling and cheering in astonishment at the likeness of Elvis as a young performer by Charlie and as a more mature man with Jack on the mic. They were both incredible at showing us his different eras. Jack was generous in giving the scarves out to the ladies too, it was all such fun!
Elvis was one of the most incredible entertainers of all time and what a privilege for these two to keep his stage presence alive, Vegas style! Love love loved!!
Follow @domarpaproductions for updates and give them a huge round of applause for everything they are doing to bring Elvis back for the ‘oldies’ and hopefully introduce more of his undying music to the ‘youngies’.
If you didn’t fly to America in your youth to see Elvis live in concert (or you weren’t born then); you CAN be transported back in time – just go see Jack Gatto and Charlie Gaylard. The two speak highly of each other; they know they are not the real Elvis and the crowd knows it of course; everyone goes along because they loved everything about Elvis from his famous voice to perhaps his even more famous dance style which shocked the world – it’s all part of the fun and the memories and these two tribute artists do Elvis proud! Both Jack and Charlie are down-to-earth and humble of their ability to light up the lives of those watching them as ‘Elvis’ for a night. “Thank-you very much!”
You might likely catch Jack and Charlie together again in November – book quick because they sell out quick, they just have added this new show by popular demand.
See: https://geelongelvisfestival.com.au/ in Geelong or keep posted on all shows ‘Elvis’ via promoters DOM ARPA PRODUCTIONS https://domarpaproductions.com.au/
Venue & Parking: can’t miss the huge “Sphinx” so easy to find and venue has plenty of parking, but it was fairly full for this event so go early, we did however queue outside for a while.
Accommodation: Geelong is an easy commute from Melbourne. We stayed at Rippleside Park Motor Inn a 5min drive from the venue and can highly recommend as a great basic affordable motel centrally located for seeing any show in Geelong – it’s always nice to go away for a night as well to see a show out of town and Geelong has a lot to offer.
