Fringe Review (II): Crimson Club

The Crimson Club’s Whirlwind Worldwide Wellington Tour
Sat 13 Feb: Khandallah Town Hall;
Sat 20 Feb: Breaker Bay Hall; Sat 27 Feb: Muritai School Hall;
Thu 4 Mar, Fri 5 Mar, Sat 6 Mar: BATS

As a long-time fan of Bats Theatre, and the Fringe Festival in particular, it was with a sense of expectation of enjoyment that I arrived at Bats for the 6.30pm performance by the Crimson Club.

Not at all let down by the blurb I’d read in Bat’s Fringe flyer, I was immediately amused by the set-dressing - a cross between granny’s living room, and the sort of punky music-student flat some of my friends inhabit. i-Liked!

Once the songs began, I was a danger to those around me as I caught the jokes in french (and very well-pronounced, may I add) long before my companions. There was a very nice pastiche of a Serge Gainsburg/Jane Birkin song, which is quite naughty in the original, that they made even naughtier with a kiwi flavour.

As the mother of a once-budding chamber musician, I also appreciated the effect of accordian, cello and electric violin played together with so much verve and humour. Now, there aren’t many music teachers out there who would configure a chamber group and then update the repertoire in the way these gals have, so I salute each and every one of them. There were moments where we were asked to suspend our disbelief while notices for Paekakariki Community Hall were read out, to hilarious effect, and the ‘Coastal’ theme was well-played with a painted back-drop of Kapiti Island to remind us firmly in whose presence we were seated.

A great evening of fun and song, which I would recommend to anyone, especially those who are unlikely to make it out to Kapiti for an evening at the Community Hall in Paekak. They have two more nights at Bats, so get in quick.

Earlier: Fringe Review: Crimson Club
Press Release: The Crimson Club's Whirlwind Worldwide Wellington Tour
Scoop Full Coverage: Arts Festival 2010

© Scoop Media