No Hat, No Play! The Cabaret @ MICF - Review

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Tue 06 Apr 2021 - Sun 18 Apr 2021

Green Room award-winner Samantha (Sam) Andrew (Baby Bi Bi Bi, TikTok) and Mel O'Brien (Tinder Tales, Voldemort & the Teenage Hogwarts Musical Parody) are currently breaking all the (school) rules with their production of No Hat, No Play! The Cabaret , playing as part of MICF 2021. No Hat, No Play is (loosely) the story of two grade 6 students and the highs and lows of pre-pubescent school life.



The show starts with a maelstrom of activity, with Mel and Sam delivering a solid 10 minute routine of full-on song, dance and action. Just when I was starting to wonder how they could possibly keep up the tempo for the full hour of the show, there is a change of pace, and we have the two girls knocking about together at school.



You can expect some of the predictable school themes - disobeying school rules and being called to the office, boys, dobbing on other students, and the annoying kids who are always top of the class. But less predictable was the inclusion of some social issues, such as implied 'drug use' and peer pressure ("come on, eat the poison ivy"), questionable 'sexual practices' ("I'm the horse, you're the stable master"), related with the innocence of children, so it's sweet and uproariously funny.

This is a thoroughly entertaining hour of cabaret. It's tightly produced, well choreographed, and the original songs written for the show are clever and well suited to the sweet harmonies of Mel and Sam. Their singing is reminiscent of (American harmony singing group) The Andrews Sisters.

Demonstrating some great depth and versatility, Mel even plays the sax on stage! (Well, the two notes she's learned anyway.)



There is much to like about this show. It has an element of chaos and craziness to it which particularly appeals. Definitely worth a look!



No Hat, No Play! The Cabaret plays at The Toff in Town, Level 2, Curtain House, 252 Swanston St, Melbourne until Sunday 18th April.

The running time is 55 minutes, and the show is recommended for ages 16 plus.

Tickets are $25 - $33. Click here to buy your tickets online, or call the MICF box office on (03) 9245 3788.

The images in this article were taken by the writer.

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!date 06/04/2021 -- 18/04/2021
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