A Lying Cheating Pervert written and performed by Zac Gower is yet another example of a minimalist Cabaret show based on shallow meandering anecdotes, very little actual drama or story, profanities used for shock value, brilliant songs written by the world’s best writers (this time including Cole Porter and Jason Robert Brown amongst others), who go uncredited, but have their songs re-arranged and littered with random modern references, performed by a singer who fills the audience with his family and friends and has potential, though would be much stronger with a good director and solid script.Sometimes Zac talked to a plastic plant, sometimes he told bizarre sexually explicit stories for no apparent reason, sometimes he argued with the pianist and at one point the pianist chatted with an audience member in an attempt to make a ‘point’ the audience was supposed to care about. We didn’t. Though I did care about the pianist and his accompaniment, it was terrific.
Zac has good presence and a powerful voice, though it was often ahead of the beat and, at times, seemed uncontrolled. He is certainly a performer with potential, but needs to lose the ego and collaborate with a good writer and director.
The Butterfly Club seems to be a haven for new (and sometimes more experienced) talent to explore, experiment and test out material. Tim Minchin performed a season there when he was still an unknown, as did Eddie Perfect. The Butterfly Club is doing a great thing by encouraging young talent to produce their own shows to cut their teeth on as solo Cabaret artists. These kinds of venues and environments are where stars are made and culture is cultivated.
Keep your eye out for Zac Gower. I am sure he’ll be back.
Zac Gower is
A Lying Cheating Pervert
Venue: The Butterfly Club | 204 Bank St, South Melbourne
Date: Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 June
Times: Thurs – Sat at 7.00 pm; Sunday at 6.00 pm
Tickets: $20 full / $15 concession and for groups of 8 or more
Duration: one hour approx
Bookings: www.thebutterflyclub.com
