Bernadette Robinson. Her Majesty’s Theatre. 10 Jun 2012
Songs for Nobodies is a musical cabaret about all of us, and the humanity which we each find in our individual connection to music. Melbourne-born Bernadette Robinson, one of Australia’s most popular performers, has toured this one woman show to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney and now to rave reviews here in Adelaide for the 2012 Cabaret Festival.
The nobodies in this show are anyone and everyone, they are you and they are me. We each have inside us, some pieces of music that we remember or recognise as being the most important songs of our lives. This show is just five stories about five ordinary people and how their lives were influenced by some of the greatest singers of our time.
Robinson has created five truly loveable characters, and has designed them to be recognisable to the audience in their everyday-ness and normality – some of them are even achingly funny. Each character then tells their story, and how they came in contact with singers like Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Maria Callas or Billie Holiday.
With a remarkably beautiful singing voice and practically channelling the original artists, Robinson recreates songs like ‘Come Rain or Come Shine’ as Judy Garland, ‘San Antonio Rose’ and ‘Crazy’ as Patsy Cline, ‘Strange Fruit’, ‘Lady Sings the Blues’ and ‘Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do’ as Billie Holiday and ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien’ as Edith Piaf, as well as many more well-loved numbers, which astound the audience and end in roars of applause and cheering.
What this show does, other than showcase the incredible talent of Robinson herself, is remind us that we are all connected, no matter how big or small, no matter how famous or insignificant we may feel – and it brings to the fore a commonality we all share with this beautiful thing words can barely describe, music. A truly enjoyable night.
When: Closed
Where: Her Majesty’s Theatre
Bookings: Closed
Press Photography (by Jeff Busby)
