In Black Bag, Maximilian (Benn Bennett) and Domenic-a (Wes Snelling), are brother and sister from a very strange family. Besides speaking in a kind of pseudo-Germanic language they have a penchant for singing popular songs (from the eighties and early nineties) in their own inimitable way. Their musical choices create a cabaret that is funny in both senses of the word: Black Bag is both humorous and genuinely strange.The choice of songs is inspired, Martika’s Kitchen and Toy Soldiers (by Martika), Black or White (Michael Jackson) and 99 Red Balloons (Ah Nena!). Bennett and Snelling take these normally mundane pop songs and re-imagine them into breathy cabaret numbers that give them a sense of poignancy and an air of absurdity. This is the cabaret of re-invention, taking those discarded, disposable pop songs and creating something new and glorious, which audiences can easily relate to by virtue of recognition, that embarrassing feeling that they once sang along to these songs.
Bennett and Snelling are excellent performers who with a minimum of props and stage gimmickry create their world. The stage is filled with the atmosphere that these two performers create, and provides an audience with a wonderfully magical world to visit and escape. If you enjoy cabaret particularly performances which are a little left of centre, then this is a show you will love.
Benn Bennett and Wes Snelling in
BLACK BAG
Venue: FortyFiveDownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Dates: 19th March – 12th April (no show Mondays), Previews 19th – 21st March
Tickets: $27.50 Full, $25.00 Conc, $22.50 Previews/Group (6 or more)/Laugh Pack/Tightarse Tuesdays
Times: Tuesday – Saturday 7.00pm Sundays 6:00pm
Bookings: Via venue (03) 9662 9966 (www.fortyfivedownstairs.com ) or via Ticketmaster 1300 66 00 13 (www.ticketmaster.com.au )