Royal Welsh College Of Music And Drama, Cardiff
★★★★☆
words: STEVE GIBBS
Always capable of bringing a deliciously dark edge to her vivid cabaret, Feel sees Camille O’Sullivan striding – in scarlet heels, of course – into even darker territory. At times, the first half of this show in particular feels like a very public nervous breakdown, soundtracked by discordant guitar and clanging percussion, but O’Sullivan’s stunning voice ensures she negotiates that fine line between madness and genius in style.
As she observes after a brilliant opening medley of Tom Waits’ Lullaby and Arcade Fire’s Wake Up, “Don’t be scared, they’re only songs”. Yet she is soon screaming “wakey wakey” and ringing a bell at the front rows of her audience whilst wearing woollen donkey ears and assaulting a clockwork bird in its cage.
More Waits – a guitar-driven adaptation of The Briar And The Rose – confirms that this is a glorious racket, both disturbed and disturbing, only for a breathlessly fragile Galileo, by Declan O’Rourke, to soothe our anxiety. Jacques Brel’s Port Of Amsterdam – now one of her signature tunes – is a capella but for the beat of Camille’s stomping, bare foot, and that lustful delivery is continued on A Little Sugar In My Bowl, with O’Sullivan on her knees and in no need of a microphone.
‘You can do whatever you want on stage’, she mischievously reminds us, and whether hopping around like a demented Irish Easter bunny or meowing at the audience, Camille is a compelling theatrical presence. From the demonic klezmer of The Tiger Lillies’ Crack Of Doom to a hugely atmospheric and stormy rendition of Radiohead’s True Love Waits, and, naturally, Kirsty MacColl’s In These Shoes, every song is imbued with a radiant drama. A rich, electric Simple Twist Of Fate is one of two Bob Dylan tunes, before a tear-stained Hurt – now as much Johnny Cash’s as Trent Reznor’s – and traditional set closer, Nick Cave’s The Ship Song, become hushed community sing-alongs.
Exhausting and exhilarating, a night with Camille O’Sullivan is to enter her ghostly burlesque boudoir. You may have to approach with trepidation, but you will doubtless leave with a song in your heart.
