Presented by Strindberg Stages. La Bohème - Upstairs. 3 Mar 2016.
Cougar Morrison is a nearly-thirty androgynous cabaret performer with striking looks who channels stars of today, yesterday and yesteryear of similar ilk. He is scantily dressed in exotic cabaret costumes, replete with stilettos in which he is quite at home. At times Morrison has the air of Marlene Dietrich, Edith Piaf, David Bowie or Annie Lennox, and some of his vocal numbers even mash together the styles (and even the song lyrics) of these iconic chanteurs.
His fusion of Dream A Little Dream of Me (written around 1931, and made especially popular by The Mamas and the Papas in 1968) and Sweet Dreams (by the Eurythmics) is particularly well done and suited his range darling, his range! When he began Somewhere over the Rainbow one was ready to be underwhelmed but was quite blown away by his performance of what was quite an idiosyncratic arrangement that breathed new life into something that can be, well, somewhat tired.
In essence, Cougar’s almost fleeting show – a tad over 45 minutes – is a story about loneliness, but the touching narrative is almost derailed by the less than witty patter that connects the musical numbers. In fact, it detracts at times, as does his accent that can’t make its mind up about what side of the Pacific ocean it wants to be on (despite the fact that he is a citizen of the world and moves freely between the USA and … WA). However, Cougar’s performance exudes honesty and the mediocre attempts at humour are quickly forgotten.
The show reaches quite different heights when Cougar keeps it real and focusses on anecdotes from his own experience. He relates stories about being different, coming out, being lonely, and patiently waiting for the love of his life to come into his life, that will make the loneliness that precedes it all the more worthwhile. In fact, it is such anecdotes and their skillful underscoring with careful song selections that keeps one connected to the act and completely on his side.
Cougar is an engaging performer and his show is a diamond in the making.
Kym Clayton
When: 2 to 6 Mar
Where: La Bohème
Bookings: adelaidefringe.com.au
