Iconic Australian comedian, singer and drag cabaret performer Reuben Kaye held court on the stage of the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Saturday 29 November, as he delivered night two of his much-hyped show enGORGEd. Backed by an 18-piece orchestra, the performance was larger, louder and more daring than probably anything else the prestigious hall has hosted in recent years
From the moment he stepped on stage for a hometown crowd, Kaye owned the room with his razor-sharp wit, glittering glamour and a voice as powerful as his stage presence. The night moved seamlessly between big-band swing, cabaret-style ballads and biting social commentary – a mix that left the audience laughing as hard as they were leaning in.
Fresh from his run as King Herod in the recent Australian stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar, Kaye acknowledged that some members of the audience may have decided to see his show solely because they’d seen him in it and were otherwise unfamiliar with his work – and that they may have been a bit shocked by the content.
And it very well may have been confronting for some of them – the show did ride on the edge of taste with some jokes teetering on the line between hilarious and uncomfortable. But that, perhaps, is the point. For better or worse, enGORGEd doesn’t shy away from provocation.
But all jokes and provocation aside, what made enGORGEd sing is its emotional honesty, especially when Kaye slowed down the spectacle. One of the evening’s standout moments came with a deeply personal ballad recounting trauma and resilience after childhood bullying – a stark, telling contrast to the frivolity surrounding it. The rawness of that moment offered a glimpse beyond the sequins and sass to see the very real human underneath.
Kaye’s voice soared through jazz-inflected numbers, theatrical re-works and original songs alike. The musicianship, under musical director Shanon D. Whitelock, and the lush orchestral backing added the grandeur befitting of a Queen.
Overall, the show is pure cabaret carnage – in the best possible way. It will kees you laughing, gasping and cheering from start to finish. Bold, joyous, and unforgettable, enGORGEd is a night on stage that refuses to be ignored.
