No Hat, No Play! The Cabaret is a hilariously accurate love letter to those fun filled days of primary school.
Over the course of a jam packed hour the audience gets to meet and reminisce with a chaotic bunch of adorable ratbags. Kids we all once knew and admittedly were, kids that are overly confident and just as naive, kids that tug at your heart strings and make you furiously frustrated.
Their energy is high from the first note and the action never stops. The songs and characters are masterfully crafted, brimming with wit and sassy one liners. The work is whip cracking smart and meticulously composed to capture the tone of each moment.
Samantha Andrew and Mel O’Brien are astonishing powerhouse performers – destroying each skit and scene with their impeccable comedic timing and vocal feats. Andrew and O’Brien weave flawlessly from one character to the next with a mere flick of the head and wry cheeky side eye.
Samantha Andrew delivers a grounded and subtle performance… well as subtle as you can get in a show like this. Comically stiff and jittery Andrew displays superb physical comedy prowess and a keen knowledge of cabaret.
Mel O’Brien is a non-stop powerhouse and a champion of the side gag. O’Brien knows exactly when to break character and add that touch of meta to each scene, before breaking the heart of every audience member with a pitch perfect ballad.
Apart from a few pacing and articulation issues, No Hat, No Play! The Cabaret is a top notch high calibre work with oodles of potential to entertain audiences for years to come.
No Hat, No Play! The Cabaret
The Toff in Town – Curtin House, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Season continues to 18 April 2021
Information and Bookings: www.comedyfestival.com.au
Image: Samantha Andrew and Mel O’Brien feature in No Hat, No Play! The Cabaret (supplied)
Review: Gavin Roach