http://www.artshub.com.au/au/news-article/reviews/performing-arts/the-wheel-of-frank-confession-179717
The Wheel of Frank Confession
A brutally honest and raw performance of music and theatre, The Wheel of Frank Confession is an original and entirely entertaining evening. Spanning from Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, four talented singer songwriters have teamed up to create an evening of confessions, poetry, secrets and stunning music.
The combination and contrast of the four musicians (Ben Stewart- Brisbane, Emily Davis- Adelaide, Emma Dean- Brisbane, Brendan MacLean- Sydney) make The Wheel of Frank Confession an eclectic mix of tale and song. Stemming from a folk, pop, musical theatre and acoustic rock arena, ‘The Wheel’ is a spontaneous treat.
An outstandingly original idea, the construction of the piece takes place around each performer spinning the wheel of frank confession. Fear, love, death, hate and pride are all up for the heckling of tales and confession.
South Melbourne’s Butterfly Club covers tonights intimate crowd in deep red lighting, a perfect accompaniment to the secrets and confessions about to be revealed.
Presumably used to performing in a larger space, the performers ease comfortably into the night. No one knows where the wheel will land, leaving each of the shows completely original. The Butterfly Club, though perhaps a little too intimate for the crowd numbers, still shines in all its kitsch-like wonder. The intimate audience seems a little nervous when first asked to share a confession but, as the show continues into the deeper, darker world of the performers, a sense of trust is created and confessions start filtering onto the stage.
‘The Wheel’ team derives a warm atmosphere throughout, as they delve into stories of love, friendship, loss, fear and pride.
Ben Stewart, an acoustic singer songwriter from Brisbane, binds the show together with his hauntingly poetic voice. His brave cover of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, highlights this mans ability as a singer and storyteller. Adelaide’s Emily Davis, clad in a stunning black corset, is the core of the show. Her rawness and complete honesty in deliverance quickly abolishes any sort of hierarchy between performer and audience. The crowd seems immediately comfortable in her presence. Emma Dean, a well-known musician from Brisbane, steps naturally into a more theatre type performance while still managing to deliver her words and music with truth and a sense of honesty. When performing her single, Real Life Computer Game, this songstress demonstrates her passion and musical talent. Sydney’s Brendan MacLean is the charming finish to this wonderful group of performers. His wit, his voice and his sense of humbleness are the perfect compliment.
Part cabaret, part musical and part intimate theatre- The Wheel of Frank Confession is a little difficult to define. But attempted definitions aside, The Wheel… is an original and enchanting idea and these four talented musicians, have pulled it out without a flaw.
• The Wheel of Frank Confession featuring Ben Stewart, Emily Davis, Emma Dean & Brendan MacLean
• The Butterfly Club, South Melbourne
• November 5th- 8th 2009
