Reviewed by Barry Lenny, Thursday 13th August 2015
If the Adelaide Bureau of Meteorology recorded an unexplained series of seismic disturbances between 8 and 10pm, I can help them out by explaining that it was simply the applause and cheering from the extremely enthusiastic audience at La Boheme, responding to everything that
Mark Nadler did during his performance of
Mark Nadler in a Nutshell. They can expect this disturbance to be repeated at the same time on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as at 4pm on Saturday afternoon, during his other three performances.
Sydney and Melbourne should be prepared for a similar phenomenon next week, when he tours the Eastern States for the very first time. Through his appearances at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, he already has fans and friends from both of these cities who have made the trip across to attend that Festival. He also visited Sydney briefly when he was nominated for a Helpmann award for his marvellous show,
I'm a Stranger Here Myself, performed in Adelaide to excellent reviews and great audience response.
Barry Humphries was the Artistic Director of the Festival this year, and was remiss in forgetting to book Nadler to perform one of his marvellous scripted productions, and to perform every evening for the many patrons not yet ready to leave after the final show had ended. Having been asked to come to Australia and perform in Sydney, Nadler took the opportunity to contact Paul Boylan, the owner of La Boheme, and arrange to come here to his second home to present four performances to his many loyal fans.
Adelaide's La Boheme cocktail bar and performance venue does not do things by halves, bringing in a baby grand piano especially for the occasion, and
Mark Nadler showed just what can be done with such a fine instrument. He opened the evening by acknowledging, in song, that whenever he is in this city, his fans rename it Nadelaide. Nadler is remarkably knowledgeable about so many things and, in particularly, Australian politics and our current government. Hysterical laughter and much agreement accompanied his biting satire.
His familiarity with the people of Adelaide permitted him to present an unstructured programme, where the material was decided upon as the performance progressed, and what a brilliantly eclectic mix it was. Pity the poor man whose mobile phone rang and, upon questioning, revealed his name to be Bruce. Nadler immediately launched into
Bruce, a very funny song by the prolific cabaret composer and performer,
John Wallowitch, that was a favourite of the much loved singer and pianist,
Blossom Dearie, a number that I have not heard for many a year. Wallowitch wrote around 2,700 songs and another of his,
Cosmetic Surgery, an hilarious cautionary tale, was also given the Nadler treatment.
After hours at the Cabaret Festival, Nadler runs his nightly Broadway Hootenanny, introducing guests, some from overseas, who were appearing in the Festival, and others being cabaret performers from Adelaide. He explained that this was not his intention this time, with one exception, introducing the only person whom he knew in Adelaide when he first visited. The wonderful
Frank Ford was responsible for initiating our Cabaret Festival and also for taking
Catherine Campbell to New York to perform, where she was given the opportunity to spend time with
Mark Nadler, working on her performance. Now a mother, she joined him and sang about the joys of motherhood, and how the whole process begins. They had the audience in fits of laughter.
Because this was a freewheeling show, where reactions from the audience or a sudden thought determined what would come next, every show will be different, tailored to the people who attend. Suffice to say, though, that they will all be memorable and increase your fondness for this sensational performer with a heart as big as Australia.
The, supposedly, one hour performance ended up a little short of two hours, but nobody was complaining, although some wished it could have gone on much longer. They say that you can have too much of a good thing, but
Mark Nadler is the exception that proves the rule. It is not for nothing that Adelaidians often refer to him as the King of Cabaret.
Following the success of this visit to Australia I think that there would be a good chance of making this an annual event for, after all, what venue owner, promoter or performers doesn't love to see every performance sold out, as is the case with this tour? Perhaps that should be tour de force. They might still be a few tickets for the matinee on Saturday afternoon if you move quickly.
Mark Nadler will make his Sydney and Melbourne debuts with
Let's Misbehave: A Cole Porter Soiree at the Camelot Lounge, Marrickville Road (corner Railway Parade), Marrickville, New South Wales on Thursday, 20 August at 7PM, and at The Salon at Melbourne Recital Centre, 31 Sturt St, Southbank VIC 3006, on the corner of Southbank Boulevard and Sturt Street, Saturday, 22 August at 4PM and 6PM.
If there are any left by the time he gets to Sydney and Melbourne, he has copies of his latest CD with him, packed with music from his show
Runnin' Wild: Sin Songs from the Jazz Age. Snap one up, if you can. This, and his earlier CDs and DVDs, are also available on his
website
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