Review: Mitchell Butel Delivers Another Night Of Sublime Music And Self Deprecating Stories In CROON TUNES

Sunday 26th August 2018, 8:15pm, Ensemble Theatre

Multi Helpmann Award and BroadwayWorld Award winner Mitchell Butel returned to the Cabaret stage to share his love of CROON TUNES. Whilst Butel has recently taken on a number of directing roles and bigger dramatic performances, it is a treat to have him share his trademark style of sharing his own stories and wonderful expressions of well-known music.

Whilst his previous cabaret KILLING TIME covered a day in the life of the magnificent man, CROON TUNES sees Butel take the audience on a trip down memory lane. He shares stories of a childhood avoiding getting beaten up in Maroubra and singing along to his walkman high above the local park, his smart mouth and attractive sister saving him from the classmates that couldn't grasp how amazing the young boy with a penchant for show tunes and sad ballads actually was.

A roaringly funny collection of anecdotes are interspersed between Butel's fabulous renditions of works made famous by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Dean Martin along with the odd show tune, television theme and ballads passed down from father to son. Butel has a wonderful warmth and depth to his tone whilst having a clarity to ensure that it is obvious that the words are just as important to him as the tunes. His signature quirky physicality adds an extra dimension to his interpretations as he draws out the absurdity of songs or plays up the smaltz with gestures and glances as he engages with the intimate audience. As always, Butel's cabaret performance is a masterclass in connection and storytelling as he makes each and every audience member feel like he is talking or singing directly to them, a skill that sets him apart from lesser performers.

For the short engagement, which hopefully is the prelude to a new album, Butel is supported by a tight band of Daryl Wallis on keys, Joe Accaria on percussion and Michael Galeazzi on double bass. These incredibly skilled musicians are also featured as they present a fabulous improvised session.

Whilst this short season, presented as part of Ensemble Theatre's POP UP CABARET EVENT, has finished, hopefully Butel will bring CROON TUNES back for a return season.

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