Everybody's Got Something to Hide (Except for Melissa, Mark and Libby)

Melissa Langton, Mark Jones and Libby O’Donovan present their hit show from the Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2009 at this year’s Fringe. They’ll be performing at the Speigeltent in The Garden of Unearthly Delights Wed Feb 17 & Thurs Feb 18.

 

Everybody’s Got Something to Hide (Except for Me and My Monkey) may be the longest title of an Adelaide Fringe show in 2010. Interestingly it is one of the lesser known tunes written by one of the best known songwriting teams, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. 

I get the impression that the show is probably filled with that sort of juxtaposition of familiar and foreign, but when I asked Melissa Langton about it she explained it in far simpler terms.

Can you tell me what I can expect when I come to see Everybody’s Got Something to Hide (Except for Me and My Monkey)?

You can expect 3 great vocalists doing some hot harmonies and fab arrangements of some well known and some lesser known Lennon & McCartney numbers.

The show was premiered at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2009 to much acclaim. My friends told me how much the enjoyed it. What did you learn from that first season? 

We learnt that everybody loves a good Lennon & McCartney song, no matter what the age group.  We had everyone from teenagers to nanas there!

Lennon and McCartney wrote some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century. What legacy do you think they left for songwriters that followed them?

I think they challenge songwriters to write songs that explore all different genres and sounds.  The Beatles were the most inspired writers of the 60’s.  They dared to jump from the stereotypes of the day and follow their own instincts.

Paul McCartney has continued to release albums so we’ve been able to follow his musical progression. If John was still living, in what direction(s) you think his songwriting and performance would have developed?

 Mmmm, tricky! John Lennon became very involved with politics and the social unrest of the 70’s.  He was very vocal and passionate about his beliefs and many of his songs reflected his feelings.  Even Imagine, which seems like just a really good ballad when you let it wash over you, is making huge social comment.  I think Lennon would still be writing songs about the society we live in.  He had a particular fascination with American politics, so I’m sure that would be a big part of his song themes.

Are there particular songs that you feel work better than others in a cabaret situation or is any song fair game?

I think the best cabarets are shows that can take any genre of music and arrange it to suit a cabaret audience.  I think you have to be particularly careful when songs are pulled from musical theatre shows in particular. Sometimes they don’t work without the costumes and sets of the show that they are taken from.

Is the Melissa onstage during Everybody’s Got Something to Hide any different to the person you are when you’re offstage? Would people who have got to know you through you performances be surprised by the person they met if they ran into you on the street?

No, I think I am exactly the same person onstage in my shows as I am offstage!  Pretty daggy really!

You’ve worked extensively in musical partnership with your husband Mark Jones in a number of different shows. What is it like to bring Libby O’Donovan into the musical relationship? Do you find having a third person changes the way you and Mark usually work or relate to each other as performers?

Yes.  We can’t fight as openly as we do when it is just the two of us.  We just go into the next room!  It doesn’t change our onstage relationship though.

Once you’ve conquered the Spiegeltent here in Adelaide, what project is next on the cards for you in 2010? 

I am doing Threepenny Opera at The Malthouse!  I am pretty excited about this.  Firstly it is Kurt Weill, which can’t be bad.  Secondly, many of the performers in this particular production are great cabaret performers.  Eddie Perfect, Paul Capsis, Casey Benetto, Judi Connelli! I can’t wait!

Venue: The Garden of Unearthly Delights - The Spiegeltent

Feb 17 & 18 @ 8.15pm

Adult $28/Concession $25

Book at FringeTIX (1300-FRINGE) or click here.

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Other cabaret shows featured in Adelaide Fringe 2010:

Chillie Nights

Ali McGregor in ‘Jazz Cigarette’

Grocery Girls Gone Wild OR Lock Up Your Porters

Nikki Aitken Presents - Cabaret Live and Kicking

Last of the Red Hot Mamas

Coles Girls Exposed

Cabaret Live! Valentine's Edition

Valentine’s Day Special Cabaret Live (#10) wrap-up – 7/2/2010 courtesy of Ben Finn.

This month’s Cabaret Live was absolutely jam packed with its special Valentine’s Day theme.
 
La Boheme was “standing room only”, with patrons being turned away at the door because it was at maximum capacity.

Nikki Aitken returns as the MC, with Matthew Carey on the piano.

We saw some regular faces: Nikki Aitken and Jamie Jewell singing “I’d Give It All For You”, Charlie Sanders with “Close Every Door”, Sidonie Henbest with numbers from her upcoming Adelaide Fringe Show “The Last of the Red Hot Mammas”, Loki Rikus with “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” and the wonderful Chris Mason did a beautiful rendition of “The Best is Yet to Come”. Fiona Talbot Leigh taught us a thing or to about what to expect with her Fringe show as one of the performers from “Berlin Cabaret” and Adelaide actor Antje Guenther sang a German Lied song and explained to us why they use a “flower” instead of what they really meant!

There were a lot of new faces, including some young performers (who were sent home to bed not long after) with “For Good” from the musical Wicked. Sarah Laing returned for 2010 with a spectacular “Girl in 14 G”, Claire McEvoy wooed the crowd with a lovely Bob Dylan song, Mark Stefanoff gave us a bit of Jekyll and Hyde with “This is the Moment” and Anjali Habel-Orel made us remember what Cabaret Live is all about with a stunning version of “Here’s Where I Stand”.

We were also introduced to Matthew Carey singing for the first time at Cabaret Live, which was a fantastic highlight early on in the night.

Cabaret Live is really getting the place to be on the first Sunday of the month. Keep an eye out for the next one and make sure you get there early!

Simon Burke Album launch @ The Civic Hotel 15 Feb - One Night Only! (Sydney)

From  Trevor Ashley Presents ShowQueen

During his brief visit back to Australia, join Simon Burke to launch his debut album Something About Always at Civic Cabaret on February 15. With musical director Daniel Edmonds at the piano and Simon’s smooth vocals behind the microphone, the night will offer a rare opportunity to experience Simon up-close and personal in the intimate cabaret room at the Civic Hotel. Simon has just completed a season as Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music in Toronto, following a season opposite John Barrowman in La Cage Aux Folles in London.

Simon has achieved critical and popular acclaim on stage and screen in Australia and internationally, since winning the AFI Award for Best Actor at the age of 13 for his performance in The Devil’s Playground. His first music theatre role was Marius in the original Australian cast of Les Miserables, since then has starring roles include Anything Goes, Falsettos, Chicago, The Wild Party, High Society, They’re Playing Our Song, Company and the world premieres of Satango and Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. Simon’s many London stage credits include the roles of Raoul in Phantom of the Opera and Carl-Magnus in A Little Night Music opposite with Dame Judi Dench at the Royal National Theatre. His impressive repertoire extends to film and television as well, including Pitch Black (with Vin Diesel), Brides of Christ, and After the Deluge. Simon is also one of Play School’s most loved and long-standing presenters.

Simon’s debut album, Something About Always, is an intimate recording that allows you to experience his rich, powerful and emotive voice, and features two very special guest stars: Connie Fisher and Caroline O’Connor. Including classic musical theatre numbers like All I Care About Is Love, You’re The Top, Sorry Grateful and Edelweiss, the album is a collection of songs that have played a part in Simon’s life and career. Simon writes, “I guess recording your first album is maybe like, writing your first novel: you sing what you know. These songs have gotten to know me over the years – in and out of character, in cabaret, at Carnegie Hall; from Play School to the Palladium.”

Join Simon at Civic Cabaret on February 15 for his first (and last) performance in Sydney for a very long time! Something About Always will be available for purchase on the night at the special price of $20 and Simon will be available to sign copies.

He will also make a guest appearance at ShowQueen Sunday on 14th February at Kit & Kaboodle Supper Club.

The Civic Hotel, 388 Pitt Street, Sydney

Date: February 15

Time: 7.30pm

$25

Booking: 1300 GET TIX (438 849)

Online booking will be available at a later date. Check back here for the direct link.

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Cabaret Live! Feb 7 @ La Boheme

Come along to Cabaret Live! to get into the mood for the Valentine’s Day!

Like to sing like Liza, belt like Bernadette or croon like a cabaret star but the living room just wasn’t enough..?

What if you could just turn up and sing your Cabaret…

Live, with a fabulous pianist and an audience..?

Welcome to Cabaret Live! Cabaret songbook supplied… just bring us your heavenly voice! 

Sunday 7 February @ 8.00pm (the door opens at 7.30pm)

Admission free

La Boheme

36 Grote Street Adelaide 

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ShowQueen Legends: DONNA LEE – 21st Feb @ Kit & Kaboodle Supper Club

Donna’s theatre debut came at the age of nine and she has since built an impressive musical career appearing in numerous productions including Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar, Gypsy, Showboat, Hello Dolly, Anything Goes and Oklahoma.

An expansion into television with appearances on Australian favourites like A Country Practice and Neighbours secured Donnas national recognition and an extensive fan base. The recipient of 2 Mo awards for her cabaret performances and aGreen Room award for her performance as Ado Annie in Oklahoma, Donna is a truly spectacular musical legend not to be missed.

DONNA LEE - The daughter of a legend, now a legend herself

Kit & Kaboodle Supper Club

33-37 Darlinghurst Road, Kings Cross

Date: 21^st February 2010

Time: 7:00pm  doors/8:30 show every Sunday

Show only $25/Show and dinner $40 (including a glass of wine)

Booking: 1300 GET TIX (438 849) or click here.

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