Downstairs at the Maj is a wonderfully intimate venue that
is perfect for the sort of cabaret stylings performer Andrew Strano presents.
Highly personable and engaging, his tales and songs (written with Loclan
Mackenzie-Spencer) about relationships, Harry Potter, and the vagaries of air
travel are like having a conversation in your lounge room with a good friend; the
kind of friend who occasionally bursts into song. Oh, and wears a sparkly
jacket that would make Liberace envious.
The relaxed, conversational air was given added weight by
the presence of his Aunty seated in prime position near the stage. Her
smile throughout the show was as warm as her nephew’s casual banter. In
Mackenzie-Spencer’s absence Strano was accompanied by Rainer Pollard on piano.
His playing was quite marvellous and the two were in impressive sync after only
three rehearsals.
Strano has a fine voice and the songs were examinations of
relationships and love, most with a quirky twist and an explanatory
introduction. The subject matter is instantly relatable and presented in
relaxed fashion with plenty of eye contact and casual interaction that draws
you in and, well, makes you feel right at home.
The best of the songs was an exploration of what happens
when you ignore that warning light on the dash of your car. This, of course,
was a metaphor for the care and attention it takes to maintain a relationship,
a fact that perhaps didn’t need to be overtly stated at the end. Babies,
flowers and twin sisters also form the basis for songs with Kristen Stewart
given pride of place in a plea about difficult breakups.
The hassle of air travel and waiting around in airports for
delayed flights was a negative turned into a positive. Those shared experiences
with a partner can strengthen a relationship even though they can be stressful
at the time. Cleverly, the songs describe such universal situations that the
name of, for example, any low budget airline can be changed to fit the country
of performance. Laker Airlines became Tiger Air; Frankston became Northbridge
for another song and, after audience suggestions, the Armadale railway line
proved the perfect substitute in the love letter to Harry Potter and Hogwarts.
An unexpected amusing moment came after a riff about unemotional
Germans. A stereotype that was refuted by, you guessed it, an audience member
from Germany. It’s testament to the convivial atmosphere Strano created that no
lasting offence was caused as he charmed his way out of potential trouble.
Charming he was and
this was a most pleasant hour to start the cabaret season at His Majesty’s. The
final performance is on Saturday 28th at 7.30pm Downstairs at the
Maj.
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