Presented by Catherine Summers 

Rectangle Room 

Review by Peri Watson

Get whisked away to the roaring ‘20s and into the grandeur of Gatsby’s mansion through the magic of classic jazz, courtesy of Cathrine Summers and her four-piece band.

The European Cotton Club’s jazz numbers range from Beyoncé to Cole Porter, and combine the majesty of 1920’s jazz with the edge of modern tracks. Catherine Summers – British-born Australian citizen – sings not only with dulcet tones, but in Italian, Spanish and French. Her band, consisting of a drummer, double bassist, pianist and a saxophonist/clarinetist accompany Summers beautifully and project the nostalgia and golden-age of century-old Parisian jazz.

With incredible vocal range, tender sense of comedy and comforting stage presence, it is as if the audience has known her for years. Summers provides two hours of engaging jazz sets. Whether you’re into bebop or Adele, this show is sure to get those toes tapping and your desire to visit France flaring up.

One of Summers’ major influences is Cole Porter, who once said, “I wanted every kind of love that was available, but I could never find them in the same person.” Yet in the beautiful and talented Cotton Club singer, all these forms of love seem to coalesce.

European Cotton Club – A Great Gatsby Experience! is showing on the next two Saturdays of the Fringe Festival, on the 13th and 20th of February in Midlandia. For more information and booking, visit www.fringeworld.com.au

The circus group from New South Wales have toured extensively, delivering their unique style of circus and theatre to audiences around Australia and the UK. Both the performers’ talent and their sense of group solidarity is evident in the intense trust involved in a heavy-duty show such as this.

LUMINOUS transports audiences to a distant place that’s closer than you think, where anything is possible and can happen at any time. With the combination of classic circus tricks, acrobatics, dance, and, of course, glowing body paint, the show proved to be a unique experience for those fortunate enough to see it.

Given that LUMINOUS has zero dialogue,  it relies heavily on music to serve as its voice. The musical selections are tantalizing and eerie, but undeniably perfect. The soundtrack ranges from soulful, gentle pieces to hardcore dubstep, and sets the tone for the show as a whole.

Upon leaving, I couldn’t help but feel a complete dissatisfaction with the laws of physics outside of the Fremantle Town Hall, and secretly wished ultraviolet lighting was a common fixture of everyday life. How could I possibly resist giving LUMINOUS a glowing review, if you’ll excuse the terrible play on words.

LUMINOUS is showing at The Fremantle Town Hall at 9:30 pm on the 29th, 30th and 31st of January, and again on the 4th of February. For more information and booking, click here.