JB Room, 12–14 June

One of the first sell-outs of the Cabaret Festival, not least for the promotional photographs showing one of the sweetest little blondes you ever did see sitting next to a stunned-looking Phil Scott, the regulars were joined by the raincoat brigade for the opening night of The Twink and the Showgirl. The latter, not to say the former, had the vapours when young Mr Hooper sailed in, clad in trunks and a tank top, trousers in hand, singing “Oh What a Night”.

Suffice it to say this was not a show in which the word ‘straight’ featured very prominently! A

ssuming, as people tend to, that the pretty young things know nothing, The Twink and the Showgirl is actually quite a subversive show.

Phil Scott has forgotten more about music theatre than most could ever hope to know, and Vincent Hooper, for all his youth, is like a sponge when it comes to song and dance, soaking it all up, and remembering every word. He also has a terrific voice, used to great effect in everything from a show-stopping “Don’t Rain On My Parade” to a suitably sly “Pet Me Poppa”. Wiggling his pert little butt in the air, Vincent may have been telling the truth when he sang “I Try To Be Like Grace Kelly”.

Generation X gets a mention, along with the Eurythmics 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)'.  “I Have Dreamed” from The King and I was just lovely. Phil Scott is one of Australia’s most formidable talents, and takes vocal flight himself throughout the show, never more entertainingly than in the “Long John Blues”, while the two join in the excellent duet from Hairspray “(You're) Timeless To Me”. 

They finished off in full flourish with “Enough is Enough”. Actually, it wasn’t enough. More, please!

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed