There was no
hiding from the political controversy on Friday and Saturday night at the Epic Cabaret, presented by the Year 11
theatre cohort. What seemed like an evening of laughter and musical numbers was
really a commentary about important Australian political issues such as
welfare, immigration, euthanasia, tax and voting age. Presented in the form of
cabaret theatre.
The studio
was transformed into a dimly lit cabaret club, with round tables, food and
beverage and the wonderful Indiah Morris and William Kasper acting as quirky hosts
for the evening. Sam Hoskin-Newell at the piano along with Mary-Helen Buchan singing
some cabaret classics created an immersive 1920s atmosphere. The night
continued with musical numbers and comedy, mixed in with a little political realism.
The students were divided into groups, each presenting a subject in the form of
an allegorical skit.
There were some brilliant allegories
incorporated in the show, including the ‘War on Welfare’ presenting different
welfare receivers as soldiers. Willy Wonka, played by Nim Dewhirst, and his
factory presented the stringent immigration laws in Australia. The euthanasia
satire was well received by the audience, with Bryce Delany as a cynical dog
creating lots of laughter.
The round of
applause during the final musical number almost overpowered the music. The
night of laughter, political controversy, relevant Australian quote and some
brilliant acting didn’t go to waste. Congratulations to the Epic Cabaret cast on the success of the
show. We’re eager to see more work in the coming months.
...article written by Wenonah van Damme
...photography by Hunter Jensen