Presented by Loose Canon Arts
Reviewed Wednesday 22nd February 2012
A simple stage set of keyboard, dressing screen and four chairs greets patrons as they enter the intimate space of The Cupola.
Leonie Cohen takes to the keys, as Liesel Knieval enters in black trench coat and hat to introduce herself as Lolly P Jones, a 1930s style private detective. Jones goes on to recount three cases she has solved.
Knieval makes full use of the stage, although without moving the microphone stand, which remains front and centre for the hour, which does get a little annoying as she is repeatedly taking the microphone out and replacing it in rather rapid succession. Investment in a head set or choreographing the work to fit with holding the microphone for longerwhilst moving the stand to the sidemay be less distracting for the audience.
Drawing on the private eye movies that employ voice over to explain the plot and the thoughts, Knieval does this on her own, using various voices to establish the characters and with a little interaction with Cohen.
Some of the songs are very clever. Who knew that there could be that much sexual innuendo in a Chinese menu, but there is little for the audience to connect to on any level. The audience is not compelled to relate or empathise with Lolly. This is more of a one act musical than a cabaret.
The pace of the story does drag a little when Knieval leaves the stage to changes wigs and, particularly, when audience members are selected and accessorised to assist with the plot. With such a small audience at the 10:45pm timeslot it was lucky to have enough audience to pull four onstage. I understand that the show has previously been performed in bars or small rooms, which might work better than stark space of The Cupola tent with its rowed seating and a high stage with only one access way to the audience.
Reviewed by Jade Kops, special guest Fringe Critic, Glam Adelaide
Adelaide Fringe – Hardboiled Lolly
Venue: The Cupola, The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Rundle Park/Kadlitpinna Cnr East Tce & Rundle Rd, Adelaide
Season: 10:45pm, until Sun 4 Mar 2012
Tickets: $18 and $20
Duration: 55min
Bookings: Fringetix 1300-FRINGE (1300-374643), their outlets or online
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