Review: Good Night Theatre Collective is back with their BRITISH INVASION CABARET

Downtown Sioux Falls saw an invasion Thursday and Friday night - a British Invasion that is - as Good Night Theatre Collective kicked off their third season with their BRITISH INVASION CABARET! This season opener featured returning performers, Kristy Kayser and Jess Johannsen, while introducing audiences to two new Good Night performers - Sadie Rinken and Simon Floss.

The evening started with a stop by the bar for Good Night's signature theme drink of the night - The Fab Four, a nod to The Beatles. This could have also been an easy nod to the four performers on stage as they were certainly a fabulous foursome in their own right. Each performer had individual strengths throughout the show but they worked best together when performing as a foursome throughout the set.

The show, featuring songs by artists from across the pond, opened with "Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra. Good Night newcomer Sadie Rinken made a strong debut with the third number of the night, "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield, which highlighted her clear, strong voice. However, it was her performance of "When We Were Young" by Adele later in the show that blew me away; it was as if the song was made for her. Her performance was captivating and was one of the most memorable moments of the night for me.

During Simon and Sadie's performance of "Space Oddity" by David Bowie, Kristy and Jess got in touch with their inner martians. Throughout the song both singers were miraculously able to keep straight faces while Kristy and Jess danced around behind them with goofy props and some killer dance moves by Kristy. Whether intentional or not, Simon and Sadie's ability to maintain straight faces throughout the antics around them reminded me of another British custom - provoking the guards at Buckingham palace while they too miraculously hold a straight face.

Simon Floss was very funny and the strongest comedic character of the four in his Good Night debut performance. The audience could catch him rockin' the air drums or guitar during several songs, and it was obvious to all in the room that he was excited to be there. His rendition of "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley brought the biggest laughs as he worked the crowd and audience participant to create a memorable number.

It wouldn't be a British Invasion without a little something from The Beatles, now would it? The foursome came together for a few songs by the Fab Four including; "I Want To Hold Your Hand" which nicely showcased the vocal strength of each performer, "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney, "It Don't Come Easy" by Ringo Starr was easily one of Simon's strongest solos, and "Imagine" by John Lennon. They also tapped into a famous girl group from across the pond with a rendition of "Say You'll be There" by the Spice Girls. Sadie got in touch with her inner Sporty Spice, Simon his Ginger Spice, Jess her Scary Spice, and Kristy rocked the blonde pigtails as Baby Spice.

Make sure you get your tickets to Good Night's next show November 1st and the 4th - a staged production of The Last Five Years; missing it would surely break your mother's heart!

Photo Credit: Good Night Theatre Collective

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