‘Chinks in the Armour’ is a Cabaret show devised and presented by Tyran Parke at the Statement Lounge.
Cabaret
is a late child in the family of dramatic entertainment, a close cousin
of burlesque. In her formative years she showed great promise as a
sharp and biting commentator on social mores always exhibiting a highly
infectious musical talent so superbly evidenced in the Broadway musical
of the name by Kander and Ebb.
In what
might be described as her maturity she has developed something of a
dual personality introducing a gentle reverie to it. In this more
reflective mood she is seen with her partner for the evening offering a
series of seemingly unrelated songs in the performer’s repertoire.
These are strung together by a loosely structured highly personal
patter of which the likes of Tony Bennett is a very engaging exponent.
Her
personality has become almost bipolar in her more recent years, the one
showing an outward view of the world and the other a very introspective
light on the performer who partners her. It would seem to be the
partner’s leaning that brings forth one or other side of this gifted
child’s personality. Actor singers, more comfortable perhaps in
borrowed costume, seem to bring out in her the more satyric and
boisterous character. Singer, songwriters are want to evoke her more
reflective mood.
There is little doubt given Parke’s
credits and the format of the entertainment that he has chosen to
partner her in the role of actor singer. He has a wonderful voice, rich
and vibrant that resonates with feeling. The songs he has chosen to
dress her in for the evening are equally varied and joyous.
It is in
the particular way he has chosen to lead Mademoiselle Cabaret that the
weakness is seen. On this particular occasion she is not allowed to
present either aspect of her personality convincingly and she appeared
contrary and out of sorts.
Perhaps Parke
as self styled knight errant was trying to force the child into
unfamiliar steps. The quest he had set for himself in this guise was to
place a pennant on life’s teeming shore, to make a mark upon the world,
the quest to be a star. In this he was joined by Nigel Ubrihien a very accomplished accompanist to be hisSancho Panza who, as in the original, was to tirelessly follows Parke’s Don Quixote through a ‘fantasy’ venture.
Perhaps it is in the writing of the dialogue or maybe it’s just the style of theman
himself but it doesn’t quite fit with Mademoiselle Cabaret. It’s too
introspective to be satire and too much of a romance to be personal.
Cervantes’
Don Quixote’s quest after all was very different. He laboured
tirelessly, unrecognised in the pursuit of a better world, not one that
would take notice of him. It is perfectly fine for the likes of Nina Simone or Harry Connick Jr
to titivate their audience with personal reminiscences. They might be
equally as fictitious as those devised by this knight errant but they
are delivered as though they are intimate secrets shared with the
audience. These performers trade on exposing themselves to the
audience’s voyeuristic gaze. When an actor takes to the stage he
perforce leaves his own persona backstage.
The sequence of songs seemed by and large to be part of Parke’s
own repertoire, the sheet music he never leaves behind. While they were
cleverly introduced they were never allowed to become part of the
actual story. They were delivered in the character of the show from
which they were taken not in the character of this new Quixote. So
Cabaret couldn’t really know which side of her persona to present. On
the one hand she was to expose the comedy of life and on the other to
bring comedy to life.
While Parke has
great presence the story he related through dialogue and song lacked
cohesion and failed to capture the humour that was intended to
underscore the piece. Some of the songs were glorious but the patter in
between was laboured.
The
Statement Lounge below the State Theatre is a wonderfully intimate
venue. The volume of delivery through the microphones seemed too loud
for the space and at times became distorted. It raised the question as
to whether there was a need for microphones at all given Parke’s obvious vocal strength.
It was
certainly a high energy performance and the songs delightful but as for
Cabaret, she wasn’t quite herself on this occasion.
TAA Entertainment presents Chinks in the Armour Tyran Parke
Venue: Statement Lounge | 49 Market St Sydney Dates: 25 October, 3 & 10 November 2007 Bookings:Ticketmaster
‘Chinks in the Armour’ is a Cabaret show devised and presented by Tyran Parke at the Statement Lounge.
