Categories: Reviews

Adelaide Cabaret Festival – Hans: Like A German!

Hans. Image supplied.

Anything goes at the Cabaret, and Hans likes to stretch the limits of this ethos to its glitziest extents.

Hans is a well-known celebrity in Adelaide (and increasingly nationally) – he’s kind of like the love child of Liberace and Priscilla (born in Germany and playing the piano accordian), mincing around the room in hot pants that would make even Kylie jealous.

A 6-foot-plus bitch with attitude, Hans is his own biggest fan. He’s catty, self-assured and fierce. Supported by his band, The Ungrateful Bastards and his sexy back-up dancers, The Lucky Bitches, a packed audience enjoyed entertainment overload with covers of all the favourites including a number of very cool mash-ups.

While Hans isn’t a stand-out vocalist, his ability to provide the most spontaneous banter to an adoring crowd that is both hilarious and bitingly cruel at the same time is reminiscent of Dame Edna. Unlike the great Dame though, Hans is a killer dancer, hoofing it up with a huge tap number as well as many high-energy routines to some of the biggest pop songs of the past decade or so.

Particular highlights were an entire song about the dead tree at Burnside Village, and the finale Gangnam Style medley complete with trademark moves.

It is Hans’ acerbic wit, his abilities as a dancer as well as prodigious pianist (flight of the Bumble Bee in fishnets anyone?) that appeals to a more “general public” crowd at the Cabaret Festival. He’s rude, he’s naughty, he’ll pay you out if you look at all like Ke$ha and get even the straightest man to give his tush a “Nigella squeeze”… and who doesn’t love a bit of that?

Hayley Horton

Hayley was an arts worker in South Australia for twelve years working freelance for small to medium clients as well as for companies such as the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, State Theatre Company SA, Urban Myth Theatre of Youth and the Australia Business Arts Foundation. As part of her freelance work, Hayley founded the ATG Curtain Call Awards (which is now an annual gala event), co-produced three 24 Hour Show charity fundraiser events, has judged for the Adelaide Fringe Festival and reviewed for Aussie Theatre and the Adelaide Theatre Guide. Hayley now runs a boutique events and arts management business, Footlight Events and in her spare time, is involved with Adelaide’s amateur theatre community as a producer, performer and director.