Two cabaret worlds collide at Chapel Off Chapel this Melbourne Fringe, offering audiences a rare double bill of glamour and grit. For three shows only, Smoke and Mirrors Productions presents Magical Mancini, followed by Piera Dennerstein’s award-winning Pursuing Pleasure. Together, they deliver a cabaret journey from Hollywood nostalgia to raw, contemporary storytelling.
First up, Magical Mancini celebrates the life and music of Henry Mancini, one of cinema’s most prolific composers. With four Oscars, 20 Grammys, and classics like Moon River, The Pink Panther Theme, and The Days of Wine and Roses, Mancini’s legacy is brought to life by cabaret artist Josh Sanders, also known as Ziegfeld Boy.
Sanders’ performance promises not just timeless melodies but a heartfelt tribute to an artist whose music has graced generations of films and stages.
Then comes a shift in tone with Pursuing Pleasure, a multi-genre cabaret by soprano-turned-cabaret-performer Piera Dennerstein. Winner of a Fringe World Weekly Award in 2025, the show explores self-discovery, healing, and liberation through music spanning Puccini to Cardi B. With dramaturgy by Moira Finucane and direction by Olivia Charalambous, Dennerstein uses humour, vulnerability, and sensuality to transform personal stories into a political and universal act of reclamation.
Presented across October 10–12, Magical Mancini and Pursuing Pleasure invite audiences to savour both the golden age of song and the power of the human voice to confront and connect.
Performances run in The Loft at Chapel Off Chapel, Prahran. Tickets range from $20–$35 via chapeloffchapel.com.au. Magical Mancini is suitable for all ages, while Pursuing Pleasure is recommended for ages 16+.
