Presented by Adelaide Festival Centre
Reviewed 11 June 2015
Storm Large lives up to her improbable name: she is a force of nature.
A singer, a songwriter, an arranger, Storm knows how to put together a cabaret show. And despite the fact that “there are no rules”, it is such a thrill to see a genre-defining piece of cabaret.
Storm looked at the subject of love (giving her access to 94.7% of all songs ever written!) and took us on a journey through some of her thoughts and feelings on the matter. Each song was presented with a story, painting a picture and getting us expectant before the first note.
This girl can sing. She can belt. She can croon. She can gently hum. And although her show was pure cabaret, she throws out the rule-book when it comes to arrangements. We were treated to I’ve Got You Under My Skin as a rock power-ballad; Hopelessly Devoted to You as a satanic revenge piece; Ne Me Quitte Pas as Dusty Springfield would have done it (and I’ll forgive her, just this once, for referring to Jacques Brel as “French”. He was Belgian.); It’s Alright With Me as an up-tempo hymn to adultery; and some of her own, wonderful, compositions. The audience thoroughly enjoyed singing along to My Vagina is Eight Miles Wide. And we were also treated to punk outfit The Bad Brains song Sacred Love as a torch-song.
Playing with Storm was Le Bonheur, the band she has put together. James Beaton is her musical director and pianist, underplaying while she tells her stories, as well as pushing out some great keys during the numbers. Praise, also, to Matthew Brown on bass, Greg Ekund on drums and Scott Weddle on guitar.
Storm is difficult not to love. Funny, sexy, talented and intelligent, she has enormous stage-presence, tempered by humility. I swear there were a couple of moments last night when every woman in the room became just a little bit lesbian…!!
This is a high-light of the cabaret festival. It defines cabaret. Storm sets the rules that other performers can come along and break.
Reviewed by Tracey Korsten
Twitter: @TraceyKorsten
Rating (out of 5): 5
Venue: Dunstan Playhouse
Season: 11th-12th June
Duration: 70 minutes
Tickets: $39.90-$59.90
Bookings: Book online through www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au or phone BASS on 131 246
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