LENNOX: Legend in my Living Room was an often hilarious, always glorious, toe-dip into the songbook of Annie Lennox. Lennox is one of those paradoxical artists that have compromised little, crafting a body of often exquisite work, yet has for the most part side-stepped the mainstream.
Through a charming mix of audience banter, confession, some spring cleaning, and a Scottish accent that existed in some linguistic wünder-space between Taggart, Sean Connery, Brian Limond, and Lennox herself, Chris Burgess gave a wonderful performance.
There was a fascinating Godot conceit at work, with Lennox discussed but never arriving (though we did get her maid and cousin). You might not expect a show that features floating, haunted telephones and inflatable life preservers to contain so many authentic and compelling moments of song and action, but here we are.
Supported by the extraordinary Imogen Cygler on keys (electric and acoustic) and the equisite Ash Griffin on guitar, Chris held the audience’s attention throughout – from its “eh, may as well” feather-dusted intro, later across a sparse and striking rendition of Why, before finally later still, with a celebratory Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) that contained possibly the only occasion where audience clapping during the song hasn’t fell away in a lame fashion midway through and instead continued until the beat of the song became some of the most well-deserved applause of the festival.
There’s not many chances left to see LENNOX (even less with appropriately distanced seating), so get your tickets while you can.
LENNOX: Legend in my Living Room
Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran
Performance: Monday 21 June 2021 – 9.00pm
Season continues to 23 June 2021
Information and Bookings: www.melbournecabaret.com
Image: Chris Burgess – photo by James Thomas
Review: David Collins