Ian Fleming has left us a legacy of more than just 12 novels and 8
short stories featuring the suave and lethal James Bond. Apart from
three decades of James Bond films, there are the celebrated songs that
the movies have spawned.
And Bond-o-philes turned out in force to celebrate them more in this
smartly staged, smoothly presented and somewhat nostalgic and
reverential anthology directed by Terence O’Connell. Spicks and
Specks’ Alan Brough is the tuxedoed host, with stories of his childhood
and pubescent idolisation of everything Bond, and his fruitless
yearning for alluring nymphets with evocative names like Pussy Galore,
when the only one who would speak to him was “Craterface”.
He is more than ably partnered by “Bond Shells” Monique Montez, Wendy
Stapleton and Kaye Tuckman who sing the songs, severally and sometimes
together, to the excellent accompaniment of the Cat Scratch Band,
directed by John Thorn. He and these 10 first class musicians, most of
whom are members of the Adelaide Art Orchestra, give fine support to
the singers varying from thunderball intensity to midas touch delicacy.
The singers are not for our ears only either. Their dresses are
spectacular and aided them in conveying the trademark Bond women
seductiveness. Monique Montez’s voice suited 'For Your Eyes Only'
better than her initial 'Thunderball', (in a stunning frock), while
Kaye Tuckerman showed us she can not only sing, but move with energy
and sparkle, while giving the songs all the power, suggestive allure
and double entendre of songs like 'The Man with the Golden Gun' and
'Moonraker'. Wendy Stapleton’s experience showed in her ensemble singing
with the others, and in 'You Only Live Twice' with its familiar backing.
Lighting was used to good effect, with moving rays through just enough
stage smoke to enhance the atmosphere, and the show culminated in the
clearly eagerly awaited 'Goldfinger'.Alan Brough pointed out that it
was Shirley Bassey who put the gold in 'Goldfinger', and it took all
three of these sirens to do it justice. All in all, a fine evening,
well worth the moneypenny.
LICENCE TO THRILL
The scores of James Bond
Part of the 2007 Adelaide
Cabaret Festival
VENUE:
Dunstan Playhouse DATES:
20 - 23 June TIME:
7:15pm TICKETS:
$40 Conc $36 DURATION:
1 hr 15 mins BOOKINGS: BASS or 131 246
The Hypocrite | Melbourne Theatre Company
Outstanding among the actors is Garry McDonald, who blasts on to the stage with a tempestuous energy, sweeping the play along in a torrent of words.
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Ian Fleming has left us a legacy of more than just 12 novels and 8
short stories featuring the suave and lethal James Bond. Apart from
three decades of James Bond films, there are the celebrated songs that
the movies have spawned.
