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When Penny Shaw mentioned at Freeze Frame Opera’s Christmas At The Quarry that she was doing a Fringe show, I knew I had to watch it. I was not wrong.
Penny’s Pot Luck Party is a veritable smorgasbord of music. There’s light and airy notes of jazz, tangy musical theatre numbers, sweet ballads and heavy lashings of opera.
But what we were served was all dependent on what the audience drew from the pasta pot.
From a menu of light bites, meaty mains and deluxe desserts, we were treated to Penny’s powerhouse soprano vocals. Accompanied by distinguished pianist Tommaso Pollio, this amazing duo served up some bangers. Some of my favourites of the night include, O Mio Babbino Caro, Maybe This Time (from the movie Cabaret) and Noel Coward’s Don’t Put Your Daughter On the Stage, Mrs Worthington.
Straight off the specials menu were Penny’s guest performers, including celebrated mezzo-soprano Fiona Campbell. She delivered a show-stopping rendition of La Vie En Rose.
Emily Lambert, from Emily in Perth, performed her own quirky, original number. The guests added yet another flavour to an already generous feast.
I loved how the “pasta pot” added to the sense of fun and unpredictability.
Some lucky “drawers” could even order off the à la carte menu, effectively shaping the evening’s musical set list in real time.
They were also required to take a “pot shot” – although despite assurances that there were an equal proportion of water shots to alcohol, audience reactions suggested that the proportion was heavily skewed in favour of something stronger.
This cheeky, interactive element kept the audiences engaged throughout the show.
A brilliant, fun evening of music from the very first draw to the final note, Penny’s Pot Luck Party delivers a generous showcase of versatility, talent and theatrical flair that leaves audiences well and truly fed, and hungry for seconds.