Review - He's Every Woman Unlimited
Review: 3.5 stars
It’s that time again friends, that’s right, it’s Midsumma Festival! In April – yes really! Midsumma stalwarts and cabaret extraordinaires Justin Clausen (‘The Voice’) and Jamie Burgess (‘Highway Superstar’, ‘Fortified’, ’39 Forever’ with Amity Dry) bring back a new version of their hit show He’s Every Woman Unlimited, chock full of 80s songs and sharing their adventures (or misadventures) across 2020.
Simply lit and with a grand piano centre stage, the duo bust onto stage clad in leather and sequins and managing to pull off multiple costume changes and changes of scene and pace in the short one hour cabaret.
There are no voices quite like Justin Clausen’s – going from Cher impersonations to belting out Celine Dion, John Farhnam and more is no easy feat and he makes it look easy. Jamie matches him with warm harmonies and they rattle through gorgeous duets on Tina Arena, George Michael, and Foreigner classics.
From all the darkness and humour of 2020, there are Justin and Jamie’s jokes and stories, throwing brightness (and plenty of shade) on each other – they riff off each other in the loving, familiar, hateful way that only collaborators and best friends of 10 years can. From neighbourhood noise complaints, potential deportation, being stuck inside and making their shows online, the challenges of 2020 are all shared with good humour and vulnerability. A little bit of illness clouds some of the vocals and harmonies, but a sense of relief is shared by both performers and the audience that we’re all back in the theatre, back performing or watching what we love.
You’ll find yourself up on your feet dancing, so pop on your sequins, grab a cocktail and get along for a boogie.
He’s Every Woman Unlimited played at The MC Showroom from 22nd to 24th April at 7pm for one hour.
Keep up to date with their next shows and watch their online lockdown live shows HERE
This review first appeared on Theatre People at https://www.theatrepeople.com.au/hes-every-woman-unlimited/ on 24 April 2021.
