CABARET

Presented by Mo Productions

The Ellington Jazz Club

Review by Jen Perry

Sit back, relax and let the home-grown Anatomically Incorrect Gentlemen to sing you a song. Whether it’s about heartbreak in Balcatta, a spoken word version of “Macho Man” or the clichéd manhood blues, Libby Hammer and Jessie Gordon have cornered the market on what it takes to be a “real man”.

They stumble on stage at the Ellington, drinks in hand, top hats donned and moustaches firmly glued on their stiff upper lips. They are Charles Winston Spaffington Esq, and Henry James Spifford the Third, both from substantially manly lineages predisposed to repurposing family names and smart dress.

Real Men is a welcome break from the frantic Fringe program, full of glitter, acrobatics and so much visual stimulation that your eyes threaten to give out. This is a show for those who like their entertainment a bit more stripped back.

While the Ellington wasn’t bursting at the seams during the performance, the audience was committed and clearly hung on Gordon and Hammer’s every word. Their banter, sometimes incidental to the action but always enjoyable, filled the room with laughter and appreciative whistles. In fact, everyone was having such a good time that the show ran over.

Real Men is the kind of show that replicates the kind of cultural commentary we all know, love and occasionally feature in our social media feeds. Gordon and Hammer are fantastic guides throughout this process, making us feel like old friends who’ve all happened to sit down for dinner and a show. They’ve given us exactly what we want for this performance, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with for next year.

Real Men runs for one final show, February 12 at The Ellington Jazz Club. Tickets available here.