The Gift Horse is a cabaret show that is by turns both dark and laugh-out-loud funny. Louise McCrae (who gave a stellar performance in the excellent World War Wonderful) continues to impress, not just as a talented singer and actor but also as author of her debut solo show. By inhabiting a wide range of different characters, from a beleaguered mother to her frightened son; an excited young equestrian to an Irish backpacker with a few yarns up their sleeve, McCrae carves out a slice of life in the drought-stricken Australian countryside with economically deft strokes. Even the characters that come across as unlikeable are invested with humanity.
It’s very plot-driven for a cabaret show, with all the songs selected specifically to push the narrative forward, even as the story weaves itself in dreamlike ways that are open to audience interpretation. The songs, like the story, tend to lean towards the melancholy side with selections from artists like Clare Bowditch, Sarah Blasko and Joni Mitchell. Musicians Emma Muiznieks and James Chappel switch between a dizzying array of instruments to back up the performance, with piano, harmonica, xylophone, voice, banjo, string and bass guitar all contributing to the overall sound. There are a few moments of dissonance when the songs, which often cover adult themes, are being sung ‘in character’ as small children- it’s not that McCrae lacks the range to cover the performance, far from it- more that it feels odd to hear the songs performed in a child’s voice.
While the escapism of these characters provides some levity, overall it is a dark tale, certainly more suited to the Fringe Fest than the Comedy Fest, charting a dry world where the innocence of children fights not to succumb to the tired resignation of the adults in their lives. But if you are looking for dense, intense, and thoughtful cabaret that’s both excellently performed and executed with flair, look no further. Recommended.
Visit the Fringe website for booking details.