In 2013, Adelaide has become Paul McDermott’s home-away-from-home. Following his stint as Adelaide Fringe Ambassador and with his show, Paul Sings, and visual arts exhibition, The Dark Garden, he returns for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. This time, McDermott has combined the elements of Fringe into a stage production of The Dark Garden – songs of death, loss, love and redemption, which emerged during the creation of the artworks.
This is, Paul tells us, his most personal and honest work to date, and reveals more than he has ever let be known, which scares him – and those who know his work can tell. He comes on stage and – as is his style – he is swearing within minutes. The difference is, this is not for comic effect, but to hide the nerves of what is about to be exposed.
After a dramatic and haunting overture we are guided through a dark garden of songs with titles like ‘5 Songs (about the death of a friend)’ – parts one , two and three – ‘Stone Crows’, ‘The Velvet Dark’, ‘Alone’, ‘Something’s Broken’ and the much loved and moving ‘Transcended’ – which brought Paul, the band and many in the audience to tears – written for his close friend, Holly Robinson.
Interweaving with these songs, which guide us through the five stages of grief (which, according to Paul, are denial, anger, bargaining, cross-dressing, and acceptance) are the stories, a staple of McDermott’s shows. There was Ted Robinson’s tale of the truth about a stage mystic and his intuitive goose; a chance meeting with ex-porn star, Annie Sprinkle, and her 90’s Fringe show; a tale of coming home from a draining season on the road to a bottle of wine and an unexpected surprise within; and tales of the creation of the Dark Garden pieces, both visual and lyrical.
The issue that I had with the show is that the path through the Dark Garden was uneven – which I acknowledge is Paul’s signature style. The stories are jarring in juxtaposition to the mood of the songs, almost like you are watching two different shows that have been blended together – like shuffled cards, from two decks. It is only in the finale, before ‘Transcended’, that the moods of both verbal and vocal come together seamlessly and the true depth of McDermott’s pain is seen, felt and heard.
When it comes to grief – some of it, very fresh for Young Master Paul – we all cope it different ways; this has been McDermott’s method: art, song, comedy and the combination of all three. Should he choose to do so, it would be powerful to see a reworking of The Dark Garden, where all the elements flow, just as they did in the last minutes of this show.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
The Dark Garden
Created by Paul McDermott
Performers: Paul McDermott, Stu Hunter and band, accompanied by 4-piece strings, from the Adelaide Art Orchestra
The Festival Theatre Stage
19 – 20 June
Adelaide Cabaret Festival
www.adelaidecabaret.com
7 – 22 June
