Article: Sondheim stars shine brightly in Sydney - Sydney Cabaret Convention 2003

by Tony Magee

Sydney Town Hall

MYSELF, Gery Scott and Scott Dodd - all Philo Sondheimettes - recently travelled to Sydney to perform at the 2003 Sydney Cabaret Convention, at Sydney Town Hall.  Gery was engaged as a headline artist for the final evening of the Convention, called the Gala, and she knocked the socks off everyone receiving two standing ovations during the course of her 20 minute show.

Sydney percussionist Nick McBride (a graduate of the Canberra School of Music Jazz Dept), joined us for the performance making the backing up to a trio. Also present was Daniel Mitchell, as personal assistant to all and unofficial ASM at the event. Daniel Edmonds and Fiona Sullivan also came as guests to enjoy the evening.

The day wasn't without its hiccups. At the sound check, Gery was sitting waiting for her turn. One artist to go - Dale Burridge - then Gery's soundcheck would commence. Everyone relaxed. No tension anywhere. Then Dale starts to sing: "Once in a Lifetime, A Man and His Moment…". Looks of horror all round. That was our second number. Gery bowed out gracefully and said "No matter. We’ll just completely re-structure our act". So we sat down and had a bit of a think.

Gery Scott

We re-positioned the final number (Don't Cry Out Loud), placing it second (replacing Lifetime). Now we needed a new closing number - something that we could perform with no rehearsal and that Gery would be comfortable with. So we sent for the clowns.

The newly restructured act ran thus: I Get A Kick Out of You, Don't Cry Out Loud, When in Rome, Something Cool, Uncle Harry, Send in the Clowns.

Closing with Clowns had the audience on their feet once again, having previously stood up for Gery's incredible rendition of the cabaret ballad, Something Cool. The story of this song is actually about the life of Blanche from Streetcar, but Gery says that it's about her life too.

David Schwartz, the Australian Correspondent for the New York based Cabaret Hotline Online wrote the most stunning review of our act. You can read it here.

We trundled home in triumph the next day. I had a smile like a Cheshire cat for about a week. I still can't help feeling a little smug about the whole thing. We showed 'em!

First published in the Canberra Philharmonic Newsletter, July 2003.