Presented by Ruth Wilkin
Reviewed 8 February 2014
Ruth Wilkin, an experienced performer of musical theatre and winner of numerous Cabaret related rewards, has arrived in Adelaide with her new solo show True Story. This show is a collection of seemingly impossible true stories, wacky anecdotes and even absurd customer reviews compiled together in a funny and light-hearted cabaret show.
Wilkin is a very talented singer and obviously well practiced. She never misses a beat and hits some impressive notes, accompanied by a local pianist only credited as ‘Angela’. She also manages to add cabaret stylings to her performance without going overboard.
There is a good collection of material utilised in the show. There are unbelievable stories, scary stories, hilarious stories and utterly charming ones. Some of my favourites include the miraculous resurrection of a hamster and the one about the man who found himself under the knife of a dentist who was actually his scorned ex. Needless to say, there were some very graphic teeth-pulling actions. Some stories you may have heard of before, but you will likely be quite surprised by at least a few.
While this is an interesting idea for a show, I would have liked to have heard some more input from the artist herself, maybe a few more yarns from her own life. Everyone has some interesting stories to tell, even if they don’t realise it.
The use of projections in the show added another layer of interest to the show. While not a typical feature of cabaret, having stories and images appear on screen helped the audience connect better with the performance as a whole. Lighting and sound were also spot on, used to create atmosphere and excitement.
Wilkin’s new show is a fun little performance featuring some awesome talent. It really makes you realise how delightful, or crazy, the world can be sometimes.
Reviewed by James Rudd
Venue: La Boheme, 36 Grote St, Adelaide
Season: 8 – 10 March 2014
Duration: 50 mins
Tickets: $20.00 – $26.00
Bookings: Book through FringeTix online or phone 1300 621 255
Photo Credit: Ange Leggas
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