Review – Amalgamy
Amalgamy depicts a mix of experiences and the eclectic songs through which the artist manifests these. Elja, the star of this cabaret show, sings a variety of solos, interspersing her performance with theatrics and comedy to galvanise her narrative.
Elja sashays flamboyantly across the stage – she looks amazing, her confidence is dazzling and her enthusiasm infectious. Love, in all its brutality, is often explored through Elja’s song choices, but cleverly mixed through the heart-wrenching ballads is a healthy blend of comedy and sass. Elja’s cover of Kate Miller Heidke’s “Are You Fucking Kidding Me?” is a highlight. Elja rarely misses a beat in her stagework; however, to sustain a show of this nature it requires that the performer be a very strong singer, and Elja is not flawless. She is an engaging performer with clever delivery, and she shone with songs that suited to her unique tone, but at times her voice simply failed to deliver. Despite this the audience seemed to thoroughly enjoy the performance and were engaged by Elja throughout the show.
Overall the performance was good, but the singing fell flat. Nevertheless, this show would well suit someone who enjoys theatrical storytelling through song and expressed with comedic flair.
