by Rose Rushe
EXOTIC lives suggested by Salon Perdu speigeltent at Arthur’s Quay Park to centre Culture and Chips Festival will sway to the rhythm of ‘Cabaret des Frites’. Taking place this Saturday May 31 at 8pm, this original show was conceived to fete the humble chip and put on one helluva do at the same time.
Artistic director Jean McGlynn talks about a big number: six dancers, four performers and five musicians working with Michael Hennessy’s brio with the music.
Essentially, what became ‘Cabaret des Frites’ emerged from a lone concept pitched at the Culture and Chips committee.“It grew legs,” she laughs. “We felt that the plush interior suggested 1920s’ style. No, it’s not burlesque, more along the vaudeville style and for the four performers we have Liam O’Brien [see Bachelor story], Jessica Bray, Ian McGlynn (RTE lyric fm) and myself.
“The dancers enhance what we are doing and will appear all singing, all dancing, strutting their stuff”.
Costumes? A nod to feather and sequins. Storyline? “No particular one – it’s vaudeville”.
This McGlynn invokes the music of Beyoncé, Queen, Peggy Lee and others “pushing us well outside our comfort zone, reliving modern music”.
It’s the ideal challenge for this ex-West End professional as her accomplished work in Killer Kabaret, Song for Syria, Sweeney Todd and with College Players comedies has been a supreme exercise in singing and being a relaxed, expressive presence.
Book €25 tickets with chips on www.cultureandchipsfestival.ie