Tale of Two Cities is a misleading title for this show – you read it and think ‘Great, that REALLY sounds like a show I want to see! A show full of Sydney and Melbourne jokes.’ It isn’t like that at all. It is Moore’s own story – of a Sydney boy who moved to Melbourne and still is trying to make sense of his decision.

Moore is an extremely likeable, engaging performer; onstage he operates effortlessly without a microphone. Opening the show with self-deprecating style at the expense of the tiny Carpet Room at the Forum Theatre, Moore is then joined on stage by his accompanist, singer-songwriter Emma Heeney, who provides the soundtrack to Moore’s life story. The resulting show – Moore chronicling his life’s course and Heeney’s delicate voice singing sweet acoustic songs – feels like a stand-up version of an independent drama/comedy flick. Think Garden State with Heeney in the ‘Manic Pixie Dream Girl’ role.

It is a show of entertainment more than hilarity, with honest and sincere storytelling. Moore comes off as friendly and approachable while Heeney is lovely to listen to. Their two parts sit well together, and while their content does not strongly relate to each other, it effectively sets the mood for the show. Tale of Two Cities verges on confessional comedy cabaret and as such is a refreshing change of pace in the approach taken to a festival show.

Finished reading this article? You might also like:

• Tale of the Golden Lease
• Daniel Townes – And Yeah, You Know
• Richard McKenzie in A Sting in the Tale.