Festival Theatre. Adelaide Cabaret Festival. 14 Jun 2012
Fresh, maybe, from a six week long British tour, Camille said she wouldn’t miss the Adelaide Cabaret Festival for quids. If you were expecting a night of Piaf, forget it. Dressed as a sorcerer, the two opening numbers were of the rock variety but veined with chaos and cacophony. Off came the red cape and out of the suitcase she pulled a rabbit. The third number was front and centre and deep and meaningful. Then she said, “Wake up, Adelaide!” a number of times which was partly required because I certainly wasn’t feeling any connection with her. What does she want? Playing dress up, these costume changes are taking way too long.
Then things changed. Port of Amsterdam was a welcome friend in this eccentric catholic set. Camille makes a song her own. She acts out a song and performs its meaning. Invests it with dramatic portent and laughs while she does it. Dylan’s Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright was a creative arrangement of light and shadowing, crescendoing and diminuendoing – she takes you on a journey in a single phrase. Ably accompanied by lead guitar, drums and keyboard, many songs were from the dark side and her final song before encore was a love affair with Nick Cave’s “Come sail your ships around me, and burn your bridges down.” I love those words, too.
In the end, it was over too quick and I realised I just can’t keep up with her mercurial nature. She left the stage unmiked and disappeared like an apparition. Sorcerer indeed.
David Grybowski
When: 13 to 16 Jun
Where: Festival Theatre
Bookings: Closed
