Cabaret, Show Tunes, and “Old Friends”

I often find myself complaining (to whoever will listen) that Sydney lacks a good cabaret scene. Tonight, however, a few friends and I caught a wonderful show called “Old Friends,” featuring Mark Trevorrow, Rupert Noffs, and Bev Kennedy, at Gingers on the top floor of the Oxford Hotel in Darlinghurst. The show was fantastic, packed with classic Kander and Ebb tunes and even some surprise “yacht rock.”

For me, it was a definitely night of “old friends”, too. I went with some people I’ve known for maybe twenty years and also chatted with a man called Brendan who I haven’t seen in such a long time. We were first introduced to by our mutual late friend, Colin. “The last time I saw you was at Colin’s funeral.”, we noted.

Colin and I used to go to theater productions all the time and shared a deep love for cabaret and show tunes. Together, we enjoyed what felt like a golden age for musical theater and cabaret in Sydney.

Of course, I’ve read about the original golden age in the ’60s when stars like Shirley Bassey and Judy Garland came to Australia, but there was a palpable energy back then in the early 2000s. I remember the peak of this wonderful scene was when Hayden Tee hosted late-night “talk shows” where singers and actors would pop in for a chat in a small theatre in Darlinghurst.

These days, if you search for “cabaret,” you’re more likely to find burlesque. While I enjoy burlesque, it’s quite a different thing. So when I heard Mark Trevorrow was doing a show with such a great title, I was immediately interested.

I’ve known Mark for maybe 25 years through his own shows as Bob Downe and his career in radio. In fact, there was a lovely funny moment when he acknowledged me in the audience. I was just slowly putting my jacket on because I was a bit cold, and because I was seated right at the front, and probably distracted him, he joked, “We’ll just wait. We won’t do the next number yet; we’ll just wait for James to put his jacket on.” It was a very funny moment that gave the audience a laugh and was a lovely acknowledgment of our shared radio connection

Much of the show focused on Kander and Ebb, the famous composers of Cabaret. There were a number of songs from that musical, but also some incredible songs from other shows I’d never heard of. I was surprised to learn their first big hit was “My Coloring Book,” a song I’d first heard Barbra Streisand sing years ago and that Agnetha from ABBA later used as the title of her album.

Rupert and Mark interpreted these songs brilliantly, their voices blending beautifully in harmony. They were accompanied by the amazing musical talent of Bev Kennedy on piano, who provided a rich and dynamic backdrop to their performance. It was clear that the three of them share a wonderful chemistry on stage, making for a truly memorable evening.

I remember this venue from when it was called Gilligan’s, a legendary cocktail bar in Darlinghurst famous for its “lethal” Long Island Iced Teas. It was a great place to go on a Sunday night, and it’s a great place to be now.

The only thing to be aware of if you have a mobility issue is the venue itself. The bar is located upstairs, and the toilets are downstairs, with lots of stairs in between. It doesn’t appear there’s a lift available, so keep that in mind when planning your visit.

The combination of great tunes, a few laughs, and that feeling of community made it a truly great way to spend a Sunday night. If you’re looking for something to do in Sydney, I highly recommend going to see “Old Friends”.