Sparrow-Folk – Nested Confessions

Reviewed by Annie Waters

As ‘Fox’ and ‘Lark’ appear on stage and climb into their nest (elegantly constructed from paper mâché twigs), it is apparent that this is not your average tits and tunes cabaret. These two women are here to strum pleasantly on their ukuleles about the inanities of life.

The opening number, ‘Sometimes’, sets the tone for the show, with a back-and-forth dialogue constructed in which the pair admit to occasional faults (“Sometimes I pee in the shower…c’mon, doesn’t everybody?”). Blessed with equally powerful voices, Juliet Moody and Catherine Crowley compliment each other well, harmonising joyously in this indie girl power delight. With quirky humour and obvious chemistry, they sing a dozen original songs as a variety of characters; each one funny, but with a more serious undertone musing about what it is to live today, especially as a woman. Ranging from the lovesick desperation of Sarah from Accounting (who moons over ‘Brian Taylor’) to the respect and admiration shown for ‘Mothers’, these are two worldly women who are sharing their experiences openly and warmly.

The origin of their unusual name is derived from the hardy nature of the sparrow, as they explain in ‘A woman is like a teabag’ (…“if you put her in hot water, she gets stronger). From the trivial to the political, this duo addresses the audience with refreshing wit; while they may talk about adult issues, this show is so far from smutty as to be laughable. Even their risqué finale, ‘Naughty nuts’, had the audience in stitches as they gently sent up pop-erotica (imagine that Robin Thicke music video) with class.

Funny, intelligent and sweetly sexy, Sparrow-Folk are one pair of birds that will warm your heart and gently make you think.

Sparrow-Folk – Nested Confessions, The Producers Bar, 4 Mar to 16 Mar