‘Naughty but nice!’ they say of cabaret – except this is much better than nice. Yes Club Cabaret is a little bit naughty but it is also witty, clever and edgy, and it has a very talented cast. With lovely understated New Zealand wit, this really shows the incredible and varied talent that New Zealand has nurtured. This is theatre that challenges mainstream theatre full on.

Centrepoint Theatre’s Artistic Director Dan Pengelly is the Master of Ceremonies, Pierre. Perhaps modelled on the ‘naughty but nice’ René from the ‘Allo ‘Allo! TV series, including having the under-performing wife, Pengelly is well in control with clever repartee and quick retorts.

However his long suffering wife, played by Darlene Mohekey, is hardly under-talented. Mohekey plays a variety of roles – an operatic Carmen with an eye for the gentlemen (aka Sonya from Silverstream), the most amazing yodeller called Crazy Daisy from Broken Bush (complete with piano accordion), a rap artist, Marilyn Monroe complete with the ‘breeze up the skirt’ scene and finally, a wonderful rendition of ‘I don’t wanna show off no more’, which closes the show. For the past six years Darlene has been the Creative and Musical Director for the Blue Baths in Rotorua, where she creates theatrical events for our international visitors. Well the next time I visit Rotorua I will certainly book a ticket. Darlene has a wonderful voice and incredible genre range. She is a lovely actress and performer.

Like every good alternative cabaret, this show has variety. David Ladderman, the man from Canterbury, complete with accent, had the audience “oooing and aahing” at his juggling balancing and magic skills. I can’t give the stories away – but it is clever. Again, like the rest of the cast, here is an artist with credentials who has performed nationally and internationally, in a wide variety of performance genres. He is completely comfortable talking wittily to his audience, as he works away.

Lizzie Tollemache plays ‘Lady Luck’, a distinctly naughty mystic and magician, with great audience repartee. However, as with all the show, the audience participation is treated with respect and great humour: a true sign of professional cabaret. She is a great performer, oozing style.

The alternative circus/acrobatic act is presented by duo Eve Gordon and Mike Edward. Mike is co-director of Auckland’s The Dust Palace circus theatre, as well as an experienced actor, who is now writing and directing. Eve Gordon, like Mike, has a degree in performing arts and works in physical theatre and aerial work, as well as being an experienced producer, actor and filmmaker. Their act – a three part love duet – has a mystery, edginess and narrative, which adds much to balancing, contortion, dropping, catching and hanging from heights by different parts of the body. Thank goodness there is a padded mattress below. But there are no mistakes or weaknesses here. 

Continuity and atmosphere, plus a little musical story interlude, is provided by talented Palmerston North musician and composer Kane Parsons. A graduate of UCOL, Kane sits on the stage side playing all number of well-known music pieces in his own style. Set and lighting designer Sean Coyle provides the full surrounding panache with an appropriately stylish cabaret set.  

Club Cabaret is a wonderful winter-warming show. Let the night seduce you – it will get your blood racing. Buy your tickets – and get in quick before it sells out.

Thank you wonderful performers and Centrepoint Theatre: it is a wonderful evening. 

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