The Pun

Ramblings: Second Movement

By Kate Nicholson ⋅ April 23, 2007 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Ramblings: Second Movement is about an Aussie piano bar singer’s exploration of Europe (oh, and an attempt at Singapore). She broke it off with her boyfriend and, without him even realising she was gone, left in search of her place in the big, wide world.

Although the portrayal of other cultures, including German, Scandinavian, Japanese and Moroccan, was fairly stereotypical, the audience welcomed such comparisons. Mark Wellington’s portrayal of each character, as described by Kristilee Ransley through song and sketch, was convincing. Ransley showed off her tremendous singing skills.

The performance seemed over-rehearsed and tense at times. There were a few forgotten lines, but they were covered well with cleverly improvised humour.

Wellington’s piss-take of a bad British comedian performing in an Aussie-themed bar in Dresden was brilliant, and the portrayal of a Scandinavian ‘air bass’ player was also very impressive, both in the retelling and the performance.

There were a few too many cheesy one-liners during a Casablanca sketch, such as an American tourist saying exactly what you’d expect, ‘Play it again…’ And the rendition of the Titanic theme during the Scandinavian cruise scene was a little unpalatable.

Saying that, I think anyone who enjoys hearing travel anecdotes will be amused by Ramblings: Second Movement. Think of this show as a way to experience the world through the eyes of a piano playing singer without leaving the familiar confines of Trade Hall.