The Jennifer Lopez songbook is thrilling, fun, and at times more than a little incendiary, and those qualities are something that Hannah Cañon’s cabaret, Love Does Cost a Thing, more than presented in its hour-ish running time.
Like much of this year’s Fringe, the show was only available via streaming, which meant some unavoidable technical limitations in terms of the lighting (loss of sharpness and clear lines) and sound (it was fine enough, but still unfortunately thin).
Yet despite the distance, difficulties, and lack of an in-studio audience, Hannah still managed to engage and entertain as she told the story of JLo’s love life through her music.
Backed by three performers (Julio Canon, Candice Canon and Pamela Canon), Hannah, took a roughly chronological path through her to-date eight albums (though Love Don’t Cost a Thing was suitably saved for last), charting a struggle that has been at time forensically examined by a rabid media and the paparazzi.
Hannah also managed to make the term “Triple Threat” somewhat lacking as on top of her singing, dancing, and acting she also managed umpteenth costume changes, worked in such a way to break up the pace and allow those watching to catch their breath more than once.
Whether Hannah revives the show when it can be safely staged in front of a live audience remains to be seen. However, considering the quality of the work already achieved with Director Sally Bourne, the spark and energy provided by an audience would surely make the work even more…
I wanted to end with a Chilean word or phrase as a compliment, but alas, tengo un acento un poco raro porque un mono me enseñó a hablar, so it’s probably best I stick to English …wonderful. Fingers crossed.
Love Does Cost a Thing
Melbourne Fringe Digital Program
Performance: Thursday 26 November 2020 – 7.00pm
Season ended
Information: www.melbournefringe.com.au
Image: Hannah Cañon in Love Does Cost a Thing (supplied)
Review: David Collins