Self-isolation Songbook
Written & performed by Phi Theodoros
Phi Theodoros’ cabaret was meant to be performed live. It was ironically befitting that her plans were thwarted by the same virus that induced her to write the show in the first place. We were then forced to view her performance about self-isolation in self-isolation. But most importantly we were privy to how this unstable world forces one to adapt and Phi Theodoros did just that, rather well. When lock-down was suddenly sprung on South Australia, Phi took pen to paper or more likely fingers to keyboard and re-wrote her live performance to one for streaming in 5 days. Bravo!
Did it work? Yes, most of the time. Phi showed great ingenuity in introducing “movement” into this very confined performance dictated by the constraints of a single camera lens.
Phi’s use of the “You’ve got mail” close ups, was clever, not to mention the tech savvy involved in the yoga zoom sketch. The head-shot, pre-recorded recitations of her 3 poems brought depth to the show and gave weight to her writing and story-telling. Phi, tells a good story – delivered with honesty and emotional depth.
Dear Yiayia, Dear Angry White Man (my favourite) and Dear Life & Death, will resonate with her audiences as will her self-penned songs (especially Muffin Queen) which were performed well and very ably accompanied by herself on a ukulele.
Phi’s show was part cabaret and part Zen guidance. She touched on many themes, which one would expect when reflecting on the past 9 months of Covid existence. Anxiety underlies a great deal of Phi’s dialogue commenting on our collective grief and sense of loss. She also touched on the Black Lives Matter protests and Australia’s on going reconciliation which is obviously very close to her heart and then onto the toll of separation from a loved one and death – both personal.
At times I did feel that it was a TED talk – albeit delivered with kindness and with messages of hope. Perhaps Phi’s intention was thus but I felt the pace and entertainment quotient dipped at times. Such honest self-exposure is brave, especially when delving into deeper emotions and I know that performance can be a therapeutic tool but it is here that the performer has an obligation to the audience to ask the question, “Is this still entertaining?”.
I was interested to find that in Phi’s interview posted on Sam About Town that she mentioned if it weren’t for digital transmission infringement rights her original idea would have been to incorporate cover songs that reflected the pandemic. I would love to see this in her live show, especially with Phi’s obvious lyrical skills.
There is an innate underlying joyfulness that emanates from Phi Theodoros and I wanted more of this and more reasons to laugh at myself and at the absurdity of our present reality.
To sum up; the Self-isolation Songbook has great potential. I applaud Phi for finding the energy and gumption to stand up and perform a show in this time of emotional upheaval and uncertainty. She is an imaginative, honest and skilful story-teller.
4 STARS
Brigitte Baden-Rennie
Brigitte is a multiple five star cabaret singer, actor & writer with an eclectic performance background in mainstream and alternative theatre in Australia and the UK. She is the director and founder of The Mosaic Cat specialising in producing and creating cabaret style productions.
