Adelaide Feast Festival – Hans’ 10th Birthday Party!

Hans bursts out of a big pink birthday cake, Marilyn Monroe style: “Let’s get this party started” he sings out at us… and we’re with him from the word go.

Hans has been flamboyantly doing his stuff for around for 10 years now and has developed his own unique style of cabaret show. It’s somewhere between Gay Berlin, a Madonna concert with a twist and a stand-up routine; and it all works together wonderfully – especially (but certainly not only) at a Queer Cultural Festival.

Sequins, loads of feathers, confidence and charm are plenty. Hans has cultivated the ability to ride with whatever is going on in the room, and quickly takes full advantage of those willing to be taken advantage of; his spontaneous responses and quips often hilarious – when it comes to the non-stop audience interaction.

The mixes of songs are nicely surprising and fabulously all over the shop. Lilli Marlene (30s Dietrich), his own takes on Madonna’s Vogue & Kylie’s Locomotion, the Prisoner theme song and a (total take the piss out of) Kilburn, Downtown rendition… to mention a few.

It’s a show that is unpredictable, a little crazy and rockets along with a youthful vitality. We don’t mind that it’s a little bit rough around the edges at times. That’s part of the fun, and we lap it up with Hans and the great gang on stage.

The four girl dance outfit – Lucky Bitches are a big part of the show’s success. Excellent visually and with the right touch of whorish-ness and smile, they move in perfect synch with and around Hans, assisting the man of the moment to make the dance routines in his show awesome.

The band – The Ungrateful Bastards, are the laid back cement in this entertaining construction, delivering completely. They wander off at one point to leave Hans alone with us in the room. “It’s time for the accordion” he says with mischief in his eye… and he takes us back to his busker roots of responding (and not responding) to requests and chatting away with naughty wit… as he just does.

Ten out of ten must go to his incredible costume designer (who I personally know is his greatest fan).  She sees Hans and those stunning bitches in three or four complete changes… that are glamorous, captivating, quite beautiful and highly professional.

A great Beyoncé piece from the team, Han’s jumping on the ivories and giving us some more of his musical skill, and rounding it off with a very original version of Proud Mary, this show will leave any Feast punter very satisfied. A great night had by all!