Cynthia Hopkins. Photo - Kristy MogensenCynthia Hopkins' muscial style is hard to categorise, she herself chooses to link a range of different styles together with dashes such as old timey – cabaret – rock 'n' roll – folk – gypsy – torch. Others comment on the influences of Tom Waits, Laurie Anderson and Billy Holliday. In addition to being a singer/songwriter and musician, Hopkins is also a storyteller, with much of the low-keyed, laconic delivery of a Spalding Gray. All of these elements came impressively together in her solo performance at Beck's Bar last night, as part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival.
Hopkins is a consummate performer; not only does she have a clear, beautiful voice which can touch the depths and reach the heights, but she is a talented keyboardist and accordionist. Her lyrics are sometimes political, often quirky, and frequently funny; her timing perfect – she tells a great yarn and is never afraid of a pregnant pause. Her facial expressions and her physical presence, along with a deceptively 'little girl' persona (which at other times morphs into a wise soul) frequently work with, as well as against, her words and lyrics.
The opening segment had Hopkins on keyboards singing songs about her memories of school days, of not fitting in and of finding herself surrounded by shrapnel but not knowing where it came from; songs about trying to learn patience and failing because it took too goddam long; and a delightful self-parody which asked why can't you sing a simple song? One thing Hopkins' songs clearly never are, is simple!
Hopkins then picked up her accordion and led her audience into an even more surreal world where she told the story of meeting an otherworldly being who created fire and turned water into wine – where are you from?; sang about forever being a long time and then talked about evolution. Her naïve, simplistic description of how the world came to be and the extinction of the dinosaurs, led to her conclusion that, in times of crisis it's good to think about the fact that we are here as the result of a number of major disasters. She then launched into her evolution song, having 'stolen' the chorus from The Battle Hymn of the Republic and adapted it to her theme: Glory Glory Hallelujah, time goes marching on.
Hopkins is someone in total control of her voice, using sound, as well as words; at one stage she managed to lure her audience into joining her, to whistle along imitating their favourite bird songs!
Whatever label you may choose to put on Hopkins (and I am certain that she would delight in sliding out from under it as soon as you dared apply it), she is an accomplished musician, songwriter, singer and performer; someone who has creative control of every element of her performance. Those who were there know this, others will need to seek out her CDs which can be sampled on her website: www.gloriadeluxe.com.
Melbourne International Arts Festival presents
Cynthia Hopkins
Venue: Beck’s Bar | Arts House, Meat Market
When: Mon 20 Oct at 7pm
Duration: 1hr no interval
Prices: Reserved Tables: Full $25 / Groups (8+) $22.50 / Conc $18.75
General Admission: Full $22 / Groups (8+) $19.80 / Conc $16.50
Bookings: Ticketmaster 1300 136 166 / www.melbournefestival.com.au