★★★★
Adelaide Fringe. Holden Street Theatres. 4 Mar 2023
Having seen Janet Swain’s solo show last week (Delphi Goes Bassooning is a singular triumph) it comes as no surprise that I should follow up with a viewing of her band performance, four women of sequins and sass from the Northern Rivers region of NSW who go by the name of The Loveys.
It is worth noting that the bassoon does make an appearance! There is a fabulous moment when Janet performs a solo, propping her foot up on the fold-back front of stage, flashing legs and channeling the like of Hole’s Courtney Love. Not often noted as an instrument of cabaret performance its place in The Loveys’ line-up appears ridiculously natural alongside the bass guitar (Pamela), percussion (Belinda) and beautiful white ukulele (Jenny). These days there is always a ukulele, though Janet rounds the sound out with keyboard. There is also, of course, a full complement of vocals, subject to a few vagaries and blurts in the sound before being largely sorted.
And the show itself? A loose take on life as a mature woman, seeking love and seeking friends and seeking sex. Three of the four have been divorced or outlived their partners, so rich experiences form part of the between-song patter, and more intimate reflections are used to build the narrative of the songs themselves. Songs of love and loss, all beautifully rendered, some hilariously so.
Spinster Daughter reclaims the term as a positive; Daddy Joined the Circus sees Belinda joining Jenny on the uke for some lovely picking; Sex at 72 has a number of mature women in the audience cackling with recognition. There’s a cover song in there as well; The Loveys pay homage to Sia Furler and the brilliant Chandelier – the song of freedom gets the twin uke attack and some complex vocal harmonics.
It is almost exactly what one might expect from four women (aging up to 72, if you’re asking) and their take on the personal side of life. There is no politics, no particular world-view, it is not that sort of cabaret. But the insights, the humour, the camaraderie are all real and powerful.
Have I Left It Too Late? they opine in one of their songs. Judging by this performance, absolutely not.
Arna Eyers-White
When: Closed
Where: Holden Street Theatres
Bookings: Closed
