Show tunes with twist of the X
When theatre-maker Machael Dalley considered reviving his cult hit cabaret Vaudeville X, he questioned whether satire would still be relevant under a Rudd Government.
It got to the point where he almost wished that Howard was back in power, so that the right-wing policies of racism and xenophobia would enable the same hypocrisy and double standards within the Australian public, the source of inspiration for many of his songs.
鈥淭he question was asked, what is satire in the Rudd Government? I actually thought, this could be the end of cabaret when Rudd got elected,鈥� Dalley told the Star. 鈥淚 felt a bit sad that Howard鈥檚 not in government, because it makes great fodder for cabaret. It鈥檚 a terrible thing to say of course!鈥�
When Dalley originally penned Vaudeville X five years ago it was during the illustrious Howard years. Now, remounting the show as part of the Melbourne Leather Pride festival, in what he has dubbed the Socialist Utopia edition, Dalley has adjusted the show to daily life without Australia鈥檚 favourite tyrant.
鈥淚鈥檝e gotta give the Rudd Government its dues 鈥� we can鈥檛 make jokes about the government not apologising to Aborigines. But we still have a government that is playing the whole border control issue,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ocial division is still alive and well.鈥�
Having questioned whether the show鈥檚 acute social commentary would apply within a new political context, Dalley concluded that despite a change in government, some attitudes would remain the same.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know that society has changed immensely,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are still some parts of society ripe for satire, regardless of whether it鈥檚 a Labor or Liberal government.鈥�
Steeped in irony, Vaudeville X has played to packed houses during its seasons and has garnered considerable critical acclaim for its sharp-edged social satire. The premise of the show is Dalley鈥檚 own observations of Australian society, which he then frames within finely crafted songs that lampoon pop culture.聽 New additions Shit Art on the Mornington Peninsula and You鈥檙e my Best Friend on Facebook continue this tradition.
鈥淚鈥檓 interested in how people live and how they think…and how that affects their day-to-day actions,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think there are contradictions in our lives. Basic ideals that we have and how that gets translated into how we live 鈥� sometimes there鈥檚 a gap between the two.鈥�
So we鈥檙e not really egalitarian then?
鈥淥h, completely not. Oh, God, no.鈥�
Dalley always assumes that each run of the show will be its last. Lucky for us this dynamic cabaret keeps popping up for another curtain call.
info: Vaudeville X runs at Upstairs at Dante鈥檚 until September 20.
