2013 Adelaide Fringe Festival: Michelle and the Gentlemen’s Club (The Governor Hindmarsh Hotel)

Left to right: Alex Wignall, Chris Neale, Max García-Underwood, Milush Piochaud and Michelle Pearson. Image: Ali & Rocky Feo of Photografeo.

Dynamic Debut by Linh

Adelaide singer/songwriter Michelle Pearson has been entertaining audiences for the last fifteen years, but has always been a support act or team player in stage musicals, revues, concerts and cabaret performances. In 2013 at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, Pearson made her debut as a solo singer and she was fantastic. Backed up by an orchestra and a rock band, plus a trio of backing vocalists, Pearson rocked the Governor Hindmarsh Hotel with her powerful vocals.

The venue was packed to capacity with some audience members having to stand throughout the show. Pearson was apologetic for the inconvenience in the lack of seating but showed her appreciation that so many people turned up to support her debut show. The show was divided into two parts, the first being classic rock, jazz and soul ballads and the second was musicals, cabaret and contemporary songs. Pearson shared some hilarious moments in her life that included how music shaped her personal tastes and how some songs have helped her overcome personal crises. Pearson never disappoints when it comes to belting out her favourite Cold Chisel songs like her rendition of the song ‘Flame Trees’ or grooving with her backup singers in a soulful rendition of Dusty Springfield’s ‘Son Of A Preacher Man’.

In the second part of the show, Pearson enthralled the audience with her musical theatre talents for the song ‘On My Own’ from the musical Les Miserables. She will also be performing in the upcoming musical The Little Shop Of Horrors in April 2013 at the Shedley Theatre with her backup singers, so she sang a rollicking number from the musical with them. Musical theatre songs continued as Pearson beautifully sang a gentle and stirring duet with Mark Oates called ‘With You’ from Ghost: The Musical that was adapted from the film.

Pearson has shown she has the confidence and talent to be a solo singer and performer in her own right, and she has more shows during the Adelaide Fringe Festival for those who enjoyed her performance and wishes to see her in a variety of shows. Check out the 2013 Adelaide Fringe Programme Guide or visit the website for more details.

Michelle Pearson’s Music Channel on YouTube:
Michelle Pearson Music

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Blues In The Night; cabaret review

Sheldon Epps' 'Blues In The Night' is a cabaret production featuring a collection of some of the best blues standards ever written. There is no storyline, only four blues singers at different stages of their lives, who each share their stories through fabulous blues and soul ballads. The production is given extra sparkle with dancers adding movement and colour to some of the beautifully sung numbers.

'Blues In The Night' runs until August 11 at the Playford Civic Centre, Elizabeth.

Red Hot Blues by Linh

Northern Light Theatre Company presents a magical evening of blues and soul singing in Sheldon Epps' 'Blues In The Night'.

Featuring four of Adelaide's most talented singers, the cabaret production interweaves emotions and personal stories of three sisters which are interspersed by a male singer.

Musical theatre veteran and crowd favourite, Megan Humphries plays the role of The Lady From The Road, whose songs feature the hardships she's endured with love, misery and hope.
Megan shines as the parasol twirling and dancing damsel in the humourous number Take Me For A Buggy Ride , she gives a stirring performance in Lover Man, and delivers precise comedic timing in the hilarious song Kitchen Man.

Sultry and sexy singer Kira Marie Laverty portrays The Woman Of The World with a twinkle in her eye to match her character's cheeky grin. Kira's songs depict worldly wisdom from a woman who's been there and done that.
Kira exudes sex appeal in It Makes My Love Come Down, gives a beautiful rendition of Lush Life and provides laughs and cheers as she gracefully weaves her way amongst the males in the audience with the flirtatious song Rough And Ready Man.

Versatile vocalist and talented performer Michelle Pearson provides some showstopping moments in her role as The Girl With A Date.
Michelle is impressive as she sang while getting dressed and belting out Take A Chance On Love, she vividly expresses the emotional tenderness in the tearjerker ballad Willow Weep For Me, and is equally mesmerising in Reckless Blues.

The thorn among the roses, musical theatre performer Rod Schultz plays The Man In The Saloon with great gusto and comic flair.
Rod has the dual task of linking each of the women's ballads with his brief song and dance numbers, while belting out a few blues hits throughout.
Highlights from Rod include his wonderful velvety voiced version of Baby Doll, the smooth and suave delivery of Wild Women Don't Have The Blues and I'm Just A Lucky So-And So.

Other highlights include the ensemble numbers Take It Right Back, and the gorgeous harmonies of all four singers during Four Walls (Reprise).

Choreographer Kerreanne Sarti succeeds in ensuring all four dancers added visual interpretation to the songs' stories rather than overshadow the singers.

'Blues In The Night' is a relaxing and entertaining night of beautiful blues ballads to lift your spirits and keeps you humming long after you've left the theatre.

Charity Concert - Six Appeal; review

'Six Appeal' is the final event of the MS Society's recently launched fundraising programme called the 'MS Challenge' which featured a series of events over the last five months.

Adelaide singer Melissa Hann is participating in the 'MS Challenge' and will walk the Great Wall of China and climb the 5,500 steps to the top of Mount Huashan. Melissa hopes the proceeds from 'Six Appeal' will help her reach the target sum of $5,500, with all proceeds for people living with Multiple Scolerosis.

'Six Appeal' featured six talented South Australian singers and comprised of cabaret, musical theatre and contemporary works, starring Melissa Hann, Michelle Pearson, Jesse Frick, Mark Oates and Rod Schultz, with James Clark on piano.

Appealing Sextet by Linh

With so much talent on stage, it was difficult to pick a standout performer in the brilliant charity concert 'Six Appeal'.

Talented soprano Melissa Hann presented and performed, showing superb comic timing and character expression with her rendition of The Girl in 14G. She gave another hilarious performance as Glinda with Popular from the musical 'Wicked', and in the duet with Mark Oates I'd Give It All To You from 'Songs For A New World', Melissa conveyed the emotions of the lyrics with intricate vocalisation and Mark radiated the romantic yearning of the song in his delivery.

A familiar and regular performer in many theatre and musical productions, Mark Oates showed his versatility in songs from contemporary to the traditional. Mark showed vocal vigour in Fred Jones, he brings forth emotional intensity in If I Didn't Believe In You from 'The Last Five Years', also joining Rod Schultz and Jesse Frick for the slow and moving ballad On The Willows from 'Godspell', creating fine harmonies and impressive interpretation of the music.

Barista extraordinaire Rod Schultz shows he can serve up more than the perfect cup of coffee, with his contribution to the concert. In the opening song of the musical 'Parade', The Old Red Hills Of Home Rod brought out the intelligence in the lyrics and poignancy of the music through voice and a gripping performance. His highlight was the drinking song Guv'ment from 'Big River' with his dark, mellifluous tones and Rod's comedic portrayal of Pap Finn earned plenty of laughs.

Best known for her brilliant performance as Eponine in 'Les Miserables' featuring Normie Rowe as Valjean, Michelle Pearson gave a stirling performance as Cathy in Still Hurting from 'The Last Five Years', she captivated and revealed a more animated side with Defying Gravity from 'Wicked', and gives a vocally polished performance of 'Sunset Boulevard' s As If We Never Said Goodbye.

Jesse Frick is one to watch as the talented singer crooned his way throughout the concert, sending some female audience members swooning. Jesse opened the concert with the first two songs, giving a vocally textured touch to These Are The Days, followed by more vocal magnificence in the jazzy What A Difference A Day Makes.

Ensemble numbers included the moving anthem from 'Rent' Seasons Of Love and the upbeat closing song Heart And Music.

The concert wouldn't be complete without the talented and accomplished pianist James Clark, who provided stellar accompaniment throughout.