The Cabaret From Hell
Written and Directed by Terry Burgan
The Dispensary Cafe, Sydney
Review by Brendan Doyle
The Devil's ratings are down. His cabaret show needs a lift, while God's Sunday gigs are sold out for eternity. How long can the She-Devil put up with her consort's charisma bypass?
Enter Philip Kruyp, nightclub artiste who ends up in hell after being accidentally electrocuted during a royal command performance. The She-Devil seduces him pronto and they conspire against the Devil to pull off their own cabaret act without him. But Satan's offsider, the Phantom of the Vulgar, reveals the plot. The Zombie Waiters are sent to dispatch the felons.
This is zany stuff from Terry Burgan, who previously brought us Hemp, the Illicit Musical. This time, the Dispensary is done out as a blood-red cave in Hades, where the audience sit at tables with menus on pitchforks, served by attractive waiters who also double as dancers.
Music is by Phil Downing and Sofie Loizou, a talented team who produced the soundtrack on computers, with live input by Sofie, who sits suspended above the action in the clouds as Shiva of the keyboards.
Susan Hardgrave as the She-Devil is the singing highlight of the show. Her Liza Minelli number is a treat, and she gives Burgan's quieter songs a touch of class. Jason Crosson looks the part as Satan. His Kiss number is a knockout, while his "Prince of Darkness" attains real menace.
Scott Bennett portrays a suitably lost soul in hell, as well as managing a fine Tom Jones impersonation. And Rob Dalton as the Phantom of the Vulgar is certainly that. How long can he hold that facial contortion?
Choregraphy by Averil Yeo adds a lot of energy to the show. Costumes are imaginative, and there is some great design work by Eloise O'Hara.
This unpretentious musical may not win any awards for subtlety, but what the hell?