Equal parts historical and hysterical, Mother’s Ruin: A Cabaret About Gin – a darkly comic ode to gin, is a raucous journey told through tales of women, love, secrets and gin at Map 57 for three performances only from 19 July 2017.
Two of Australia’s hottest stars, Maeve Marsden and Libby Wood, accompanied by cabaret legend Tom Dickins, together ignite the stage with stunning vocals and quick wit as they take an intoxicating stroll through the history of one of the world’s favourite tipples.
From the streets of London to the Australian bush, via colonial India, New York speakeasies and the jungles of Peru, the mythology and propaganda around gin has been relentlessly used to subjugate women, build misnomers on miscarriage and hammer home the message of ‘hysteria’.
Marsden and Wood are long-time collaborators, evident in their flawless harmonies and natural demeanour, described as “buxom and bodacious” (InDaily). Their Melbourne season, and subsequent UK tour sees them join forces with Tom Dickins as their Pianoman, who has recorded and toured with Amanda Palmer, co-written with Neil Gaiman, and shared the stage with the likes of Tim Minchin, Paul Kelly and Margaret Cho.
Mother’s Ruin is a joint venture with gin writer Elly Baxter (The Ginstress), director Anthea Williams (Belvoir’s Associate Director, formerly Associate Director at London’s Bush Theatre) and musical director Jeremy Brennan (collaborations include Paul Capsis, Courtney Act, London punk performance artist David Hoyle & New York cabaret icon Joey Arias).
The production has toured and sold out seasons at the Sydney Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Melbourne Cabaret Festival, Fringe World Festival (Perth) and Festival of Voices (Hobart). With a generous splash of stunning music, a dash of theatricality and a twist of feminist theory, Mother’s Ruin is a deliciously contemporary cabaret cocktail. Bookings highly recommended.
Mother’s Ruin: A Cabaret About Gin
Map 57: St Kilda Winter Arts Garden, Jacka Boulevard, St. Kilda (next to the Palais Theatre)
Performances: 19 – 21 July 2017 – 8.45pm
Information and Bookings: www.map57.com
Image: Libby Wood, Tom Dickins and Maeve Marsden feature in Mother’s Ruin: A Cabaret About Gin (supplied)