Mike McLeish, better known to some as the guy from Keating! The Musical, has offered up a gently amusing slice of song and storytelling as part of the Melbourne Cabaret Festival.
Message To My Girls is inspired by fatherhood, and in particular, fatherhood of two daughters in modern Australian society. McLeish talks – and sings – about parenting, delivering a show that is frequently amusing but also a little loose. He skirts the line between storytelling and standup with mixed results. On one hand, he’s grabbing at some fairly low-hanging fruit (wanting to fight Alex Perry; the joy of judging other people’s parenting) but he also hits on brilliance throughout the evening, particularly when he gets started on the topic of the sort of suitor he hopes his daughter will one day date.
McLeish’s powerful voice is no secret, and it’s nice to see his pipes on display, although a few of the songs performed feel a little bit like filler. There are a few great numbers, especially some of the less jokey tunes about the joys and pitfalls of parenting and family, but others simply aren’t all that memorable.
The show also suffers from a little bit of Quentin Tarantino-esque failure to end. McLeish performs a touching piece, dedicated to his daughters, and it feels like the perfect coda. He then walks up to the lectern to continue the night’s running gag of writing down things he wants to tell his girls, bringing it to a heartfelt close, and it feels a little bit tacked-on, but sweet. And then he comes out to perform a final rockin’ number, telling the audience he couldn’t possibly end on the previous sappy note. He could have, though – he could even have ended on the note before that one. The finale song is also, unfortunately, quite forgettable, and lacks the emotional resonance that preceded it.
McLeish is a talented performer and a genuinely funny, engaging stage presence, but Message To His Girls is a bit of a mixed bag. It’s charming, and it certainly packs an emotional punch at the end, but a bit of editing would tighten things up and leave a stronger show – one that is less reliant on audience goodwill toward its star.
Rating: 2 ½ out of 5 stars
Message To My Girls
Performed by Mike McLeish
Chapel Off Chapel, Little Chapel St, Prahran
www.melbournecabaret.com
28 – 29 June
