The genre of ‘Cabaret’ got a new lease of life with the film of the same name and the camp, clever, quirky version as created in 1930s Berlin has endured and developed into today’s modern culture becoming popular with gay and straight audiences alike.
Listed as ‘cabaret and variety’ in the Fringe programme, Ada Campe is described as a ‘unique blend of comedy, magic, regret and shouting.’ This is pretty accurate as deep in her cave like venue she prowls around her audience as if they are prey and lures them into her surreal world of storytelling and trickery.
Due to a combination of heat and tiredness on my part, I lost my thread with the magic. Or maybe it lost me, like the ‘Cress’ part in the title. But the audience appreciated the sorcery and snacks, and the winner of the competitive element of the show seemed surprisingly pleased to be presented with a warm finger of fudge that had been secreted about Ada’s person for the duration of her show.
This is a bold performance and an interesting alter ego. With a headdress and makeup that would look at home at the Royal Opera House, I found myself distracted by this rather than focusing on the show’s narrative. Maybe that’s why I didn’t get the magic part…
I honestly love a bit of camp variety entertainment and felt that Ada could have been even more larger than life, outrageous and flirty with her audience. This is the kind of show that needs a bigger stage, more glitter and a killer soundtrack. Putting this together in a humid, dark, cave-like basement is a tough gig and deserves credit.
I love the whole concept and look forward to seeing more of Ada – maybe she should host a cabaret and variety showcase as think her interaction with other performers would be a great way of developing her character and showing off her skills.
★★★
