Categories: Reviews

This Bette is Divine – Catherine Alcorn at The West Australian Idolize Spiegeltent

Miss Bette (Catherine Alcorn) and The Harlettes

From the moment the be-sequined Catherine Alcorn shimmied onto the stage she held the audience in the palm of her hand.

The Idolize Speigeltent was packed with an adoring audience who rose to her every command.

With gusto we sang along and cheered on her brilliant Musical Director on keyboards Isaac Hayward and the fabulous Harlettes, ‘Brittney’ (Michelle Brasier) and ‘Paris’ (Karla Hiliam).

It was a superbly engineered program; opening with the endearing and lovely ‘Friends’ and ripping into a sing-along version of ‘Chapel of Love’.

Monday night and the Fringe Festival is rocking!

Alcorn’s voice is superb. Her length and pitch on the final notes of ‘Am I Blue’ has to be heard to be believed.

The Midleresque asides and risqué Sophie Tucker gags were delivered with panache. Alcorn’s sense of comic timing and accent is flawless.

She bounced from a wonderful and poignant version of ‘Hello In There” to the very naughty “Dr Longjohn” – a dentist who specializes in filling!

Utilising a willing front row male audience member she exhorted him to ‘Stay With Me Baby’.

The musical arrangements were excellent, her voice is impeccable, the Harlettes vocals were superb, the flirty dance moves wowed the crowd.

‘From A Distance’ was delivered beautifully from a stepladder; high-camp indeed.

The much-awaited encore “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy From Company B” lifted the roof and drew a standing ovation.

Season: 18-24 February @ 8pm

Tickets $35.00

Bookings: www.fringeworld.com.au

 

Claire Condry

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