Presented by Adelaide Festival Centre
Reviewed 16 June 2016
Opera singer extraordinaire, David Hobson, and legendary funny-man, Colin Lane, have been mates for over twenty five years. And over the course of their friendship, they’ve often pondered what it would be like to do what “the other guy” does. The fabulously classy, funny and even cheesy result is In Tails, where these two incredibly talented entertainers treat the audience to a collision of their worlds.
Performed in the Banquet Room at the Festival Centre, this unique Cabaret show established the mood with an intimate array of tables for the audience, and a sleek stage set with a baby grand piano. Incidentally, pianist David Cameron, accompanied the two throughout and added not only wonderfully played music, but his own unique stage presence to the pairing.
In Tails is funny. And it’s funny all the way through. But what sets it apart is that it manages to keep up the energy, wit, cheese (poor Christopher Pyne does cop quite a bit) at the same time as being classy, clean and beautiful. The underlying impetus of the “experiment” is that Colin Lane wants to learn about and perform opera, while David Hobson wants to be a comedian. The two try on one another’s shoes (at times alternating between Hobson performing an operatic piece then switching to Lane performing a well known ditty like Camp Grenada) and they perform together, both singing and with the slapstick, tennis ball banter.
The show also features an unusual set list. While accessible and certainly enjoyable, these aren’t the usual ditties that Cabaret shows tend to fall back on. You won’t find Dean or Frank lurking (Lano doesn’t work with him anymore!) but there’s still a sense of ease with the selection, and the inclusion of recognisable and popular opera pieces is beautiful.
I’d say this is a certain winner for the 2016 Cab Fest. It’s a great introduction to the genre for those who don’t frequent Cabaret much, as well as being of a standard sure to impress regular attendees. The chemistry and energy between the men is impeccable and infectious, so if you’d like to laugh at the opera, and enjoy a night full of personality and pizzazz, get along to In Tails. This is clean, classy comedy that will keep you smiling!
Reviewed by Samantha Bond
Twitter: @SamStaceyBond
Rating (out of 5): 5
Venue: Banquet Room
Season: 16-18 June
Duration: 1 hour 10 mins
Tickets: $39.90 – $49.90
Bookings: Book online through the Adelaide Cabaret Festival website or phone BASS on 131 246
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