Hotel - a cabaret was everything it promised to be and so much more. Telling 4 stories with very few spoken words and 1 protagonist is not an easy thing to do yet Helen Medlyn kept us entranced through song for the entire programme. Fabulous and funny, stunning and striking, manic and magical, pouty and powerful, she was magic. Her voice is so very very fine as we all know.
Penny Dodd does more than play the piano, she is a collaborator, an enabler, a quiet foil to Helen's drama. She arranged the music and performed with brilliance. At times it seemed as if there was more accompaniment than the piano such was the depth of sound under Penny's hands. I was entranced throughout the performance and my face ached at the end from laughing and smiling so much.
I am no musician and have limited knowledge of cabaret and musical numbers but I loved it. I knew it was extremely well done as are all their shows.
Bruce Mason Centre @
- Auckland @
- Sun 3 Jul 2011 @
Favourite moment: Habanera, Hissing of Summer Lawns, Pirate Jenny, Arthur in the Afternoon - all of it!!!! @