Queenie Van de Zandt’s Cabaret in 12 Easy Steps is a behind the scenes look at how to develop your own cabaret show.At times irreverent and unashamedly funny Queenie is accompanied on piano by Peter J. Casey. These two performers have come along way since their early days at the Queanbeyan School of Arts Café.
In between tributes to Andrew Lloyd Webber - thanks to early home videos, the musical repertoire included gems from Tim Minchin and Eddie Perfect. Add to that the obligatory bit of audience participation in the form of a Dutch lullaby, the only low point being the politically correct rendition of Waltzing Matilda which dragged and felt out of place with the rest of the show.
Queenie’s rendition of Defying Gravity from the musical ‘Wicked’ was the standout highlight, making one ask why isn’t this woman in the show?
At just under ninety minutes, Cabaret in 12 Easy Steps is an interesting show that could benefit from some small revisions. With that aside, Queenie van de Zandt is one of Australia’s under-rated talents, who I would like to see more of.
Queenie van de Zandt – Cabaret in 12 Easy Steps
Artspace, Adelaide Cabaret Festival
Sunday 8 June 2008. Review by Rohan Shearn
Season Closed
