The night is balmy on New Years Eve, 2010 in Adelaide, and many cabaret lovers start to gather at La Boheme to welcome 2011. The tables are gorgeously decorated with red rose petals and candles.
Completely sold-out show of the evening is A French Cabaret, a New Years Eve extravaganza featuring the crème de la crème of local cabaret stars performing French songs. What better way to celebrate the New Year?
The three-hour cabaret is filled with superb performances, bountiful laughter and well-loved French standards, including many Piaf and Brel numbers.
We’re also treated to cheese platters for the first set, fresh bread accompanied by French cured ham, dips and artichokes for the second, and nectarines, strawberries, cherries and brioche drizzled with melted chocolate for the last set. They are all mouthwateringly delicious.
Igor (Stephen Sheehan) is the perfect choice for MC, looking very much the part with a tux and a top hat. He is witty, funny and keeps the pace of the show just right. Matthew Carey at the piano gives the songs a sophisticated Parisian flavour and we all immerse ourselves in them. He is utterly sublime throughout.
Gigantic baguette wielding Jamie Jewell as suave Jacques starts the evening off with “Le Chevre Noir” and the sassy minx Celeste (Sidonie Henbest) sizzles on stage as she sings “Sous le Ciel de Paris”. We also meet the hapless but adorable clown Hugo (Hew Parham). We never know what mischief he’ll get up to next - but whatever he ends up doing, we all break out in hysterical laughter.
The mesmerising Catherine Campbell makes a dramatic entrance and surprises us all again with an equally astonishing costume change as Gigi, Celeste’s sister. Gigi is quite a seductress herself, and the sibling rivalry and catfights with Celeste is thoroughly amusing.
Gigi the vixen grabs the audience members with a devilish grin for an impromptu dance several times and, with one gentleman, she declares that he’s ‘six foot two”. She is a joy to watch.
The special guests all add to what is already a spectacular evening. Anya McNichol-Windram from Bird Wizdom’s song “Stalker” is catchy and hilarious. Cherry Valence’s beautiful dance with two feather fans is dreamy and hypnotising. We’re also treated to a sneak preview of Nikki Aitken’s new Adelaide Fringe show she wrote with Matthew Carey, Viva la Franglaise, which whets my appetite - she’s intriguing as the runaway South-Londoner Carol Prachett. When Matt Gilberston appears with his accordion as Catherine/Gigi sings “La Vie En Rose”, it’s absolutely enchanting.
The cheeky charm of Jamie Jewell goes down well and he works the room with “Thank Heavens for Little Girls” and “Lady Marmalade”.
As much as I love Sidonie Henbest performing uproarious, raunchy numbers like “Le Grand Boom Boom” and “A Guy What Takes His Time”, she is at her enthralling best when she sings heart-wrenching torch songs such as “Ne Me Quitte Pas” for this show. She breathes life into the lyrics and I literally feel her anguish. It’s spine-tingling.
Catherine Campbell is in top form as she closes the final set before the countdown with the comical “Vodka”. It never ceases to amaze me to see her effortlessly connecting with her audience while she tells her story. She is a truly fascinating cabaret songstress on every level.
With two minutes to go before midnight, we all sing “Non, Regret Rien” clutching the lyric sheets, and just make it in time to celebrate the arrival of 2011 with sparkling wine, crackers, ribbons, hugs, kisses and smiles.
The night went on with people dancing, cheering and generally having a whale of a time. This is one of the very rare New Year’s Eve parties that more than lived up to the hype. it was simply a magical evening.
Kudos to the entire A French Cabaret team, everyone from La Boheme and Felicity Arts for putting on such an amazing event.
Should they do it again this year? I’d give a resounding “Oui”!
Lena Nobuhara
Cabaret Confessional Associate Editor
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Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at 8:34AM 
