Tayla In Oz cabaret review: A wizardly journey
This debut cabaret show mixes immigration stories, sharp humour and clever rewrites of beloved musical numbers
What a pocket rocket Tayla Alexander is. Her self-penned debut cabaret tells the story of her immigration to Australia from South Africa (from SA to… SA) with plenty of wit and some genius lyrical repurposing of songs from The Wizard Of Oz, Wiz and a little-known movie/musical that goes by the name of Wicked. It’s a wizard idea: because we already know the songs, we immediately understand the emotion Alexander is trying to convey, which allows us to better tune in to her funny re-writes of the words.
Alexander’s family moved to Adelaide during lockdown, which introduces a very funny bit describing the scene that met them at the quarantine hotel room (three people, two windows, one bed). If you are already picturing a spirited rendition of ‘Defying Quarantine’ to illustrate this situation, I’m happy to report that Alexander is more than willing to oblige. That’s a home run, right there. She’s sharply observant when discussing ‘How To Aussie’, with lots of jokes that land well with an Adelaide crowd.
This is an affectionate look at the importance of family and friends, and how moving continents is always going to change who you are (even if you do have the privilege of doing it willingly and safely). The final section reveals a young person who has battled more than a few demons: this adds more emotional richness to her story, which might also be deployed earlier in the show. Nonetheless, this is a strong, entertaining hour for musical theatre nerds, cabaret fans and anyone who’s wished they could click their heels together three times and just go home.
Tayla In Oz concludes at Plant 4 Bowden on March 21.