Paul McCarthy and Michael Dalley in Intimate Apparel. Photos - Ponch Hawkes
The 2007 Melbourne Fringe Festival introduces audiences to the second work by Melbourne based cabaret performer, theatremaker and director, Michael Dalley whose Vaudeville X - first produced in 2004 and recently part of the Adelaide Fringe - has earned him a cult following in Melbourne.
For the second production by Dalley's High Performance Company, Intimate Apparel, Dalley has teamed up with performer Paul McCarthy (Comedy Inc: The Late Shift) and pianist Will Poskitt (Shane Warne – The Musical).
Dressed in aqua overalls, heads shaved and wearing goggles, the pair (Dally and McCarthy) welcome their audience with a ditty which expresses the fears and hopes of audiences everywhere – please make it worthwhile. They then proceed to take us on a very funny trip down memory lane – from poor theatre to feminist theatre and queer performance art – asking the most important question of all, how do you engage the paying public? According to them their career has been on a downward spiral since their original success in the 'poor theatre' of the 80s. Why is this, they ask?
Intimate Apparel takes the audience on a satiric romp through fads and fashions in the arts from the 80s and 90s, till the present. No one is spared – 'nasturtiums' are thrown at everyone from art movements, to performers; from footballers as motivational speakers, to arts administrators. The audience is drawn into the fun, though any interactivity is not overly threatening – even my limelight fearful partner survived to enjoy the satirical edge of the performance.
High Performance Company presents
Intimate Apparel
A new cabaret by Michael Dalley
Venue: Dante’s Gallery | Dante’s, Cnr Gertrude & Napier Sts Fitzroy
Dates: 27 September – 14 October, 2007
Times: Thur – Sun @7.30pm
Tickets: $20/$15 Conc
Bookings: 8412 8777 / www.melbournefringe.com.au
