Miss Kitty's Karavan in Matters of Life and Debt. Big Hair Productions. Goodwood Institute. 20 Feb 2015
Chanteuse and ex-spy Miss Kitty makes her entrance from below the boards of the Goodwood Institute stage and now you are sure you are in for something different than your usual concert.
Wearing a seriously polka-dotted something that Dame Edna would feel comfortable in doing the weekly grocery shop at Moonee Ponds, Miss Kitty spins an apocryphal tale of her adventures with MI5 and other dodgy activities. Her story seems less strange in comparison to the antics and outbursts of the musicians in her Karavan, which is certainly not under her control. The tension in this inventive act weaves together her Karavan's oeuvre of rearranged popular songs and lesser known ditties - many of which have a flavour of Marrakesh or something known as gypsy jazz.
The Karavan musicians, while pretending to be a disparate and whacky bunch, are very accomplished and added further to the intrigue and conceit. Songs the baby boomers are familiar with are re-imagined. 'My Favourite Things' becomes a list of sadomasochistic implements. Nick Cave's 'Into My Arms' ends up as a ventriloquist act performed to perfection by Miss Kitty. 'Stairway to Heaven' shakes hands with 'My Funny Valentine' in the same beat. 'Ring of Fire' sits comfortably with a couple of other songs in the same number with Miss Kitty delivering the goods as if possessed.
Miss Kitty opened the second half in a black number somewhere between a frock and a raincoat that later was shed to reveal a truly shimmering and glamorous silver dress. The audience gladly participated in David Bowie's 'Heroes' but several men, including yours truly, declined an offer to appear on stage in a tango number, clearly sensing the danger amongst this unpredictable lot. The show weighed in at a hefty two and a half hours and time flew by.
Miss Kitty is none other than she who channeled Patsy Cline in her 'Patsy Decline' show you might have enjoyed a few years ago - additional testimony of Kerry Reid's impeccable ability to create a persona and smack your cochlear with a vibrant note. Bravo!
Hurry, hurry, hurry! Only two shows left! Only this weekend!
David Grybowski
When: 20 Feb to 22 Feb
Where: Goodwood Institute
Bookings: adelaidefringe.com.au
