Sydney Reviews

Photo – Toby Burrows

An explosion of attitude. Profane. Unapologetic. Loud. Fun. B-GIRL is marketed as a rock-opera-odyssey but I think that's a stretch. It's really about the man: iOTA.

Director Craig Ilott weaves a story into the glam-metal power ballads and electro-funk gym tunes, but it's confected to say the least. Rachel, the gorgeous Blazey Best, is bashed and dominated by her #$%@ of a husband, Ashley Lyons. To survive, she dreams the dream of Cliff North, iOTA. He's the strutting, singing psychopomp lending her the self-belief to survive.

If there's an interesting transformation it's to be found in Cliff himself; he morphs from the Saturnine to the Dionysian and finally the messianic. Talk about a super-ego! Nothing screams rock-god like cherry-picking from the Pantheon and throwing Jesus Christ (superstar) into the mix. Still, it's pretty cool and gives the brain something to chew while luxuriating in all that sound (those funky beats, those dirty licks – not for nothing am I not a music critic!). There's also a tight little band who rock pretty hard for a back-up act (and look spectacular in silver sequinned onesies and chorus-masks from Greek tragedy).

The stage reminds of an alter and the lighting of a Kiss concert, or perhaps a UFO landing. But above all sings iOTA. Resplendent, fabulous, loud and proud. His voice is full of texture and experience and it's his confidence which surrounds and carries the show. The songs are full of driving rhythms, synth and distortion. They're mostly about the pain and vulnerability of the outsider vs. the power of the will.

B-Girl is a bad-ass show, but definitely not one for the faint of heart or light of ear. A hell of a night out.


Sydney Opera House presents a Lunar Hare Production
B-GIRL
by Craig Ilott and iOTA

Directed by Craig Ilott

Venue: The Playhouse, Sydney Opera House
Dates: 3 – 21 June 2015
Tickets: $59 – $85
Bookings: www.sydneyoperahouse.com