A Night at the Musicals 3: Summer Lovin’ Tour with Le Gateau Chocolat and Johnny Woo is a must-see this Adelaide Fringe
A Night at the Musicals 3: Summer Lovin’ Tour is the long-awaited next instalment in Le Gateau Chocolat and Johnny Woo’s musical theatre song themed shows. The follow up to Another Night at the Musicals, which they last performed at Adelaide Fringe 2019, this new show is currently on at Adelaide Fringe 2023. For the uninitiated, Le Gateau Chocolat and Jonny Woo known as ‘The French and Saunders of Drag’ put on a show in which they take you through the big showtunes we all know and love with their own raucous twist.
Whether you’re a fan of the musical theatre genre, or even if you’re not, this is a show that will have you beaming with smiles from laughter at this duo’s takes on these tunes. It’s not just funny takes on them either, both have considerable vocal talent. Despite Chocolat not only losing his voice but haemorrhaging his vocal cords (which we can only imagine is as painful as it sounds) only just a few weeks ago, his Adelaide Fringe performance was flawless. Le Gateau Chocolat’s ability to not only sing in delightfully velvety dark baritone but to hold a note for an impressively long-time (15 seconds at one count!) is incredible. Some singers cannot sing anywhere near as well even when they have no vocal cord issues!
A Night at the Musicals 3 delivers on costume changes with most numbers having their own outfits. The show opens with both Woo and Chocolat wearing black sequinned jump suits with matching pointy hats on their heads and their shoulders. Johnny Woo shows off legs most women would kill for in a lacy baby doll. His red wig suddenly gave me Tim Minchin vibes and threw me a little! There are yellow raincoats and matching hats, demure blue dresses, and wigs aplenty.
A night at the musicals 3 had some new numbers and some from the last show but they were so good, and it’s been so long in between shows that we were happy to see them again. Like a reunion of sorts. We were really happy to see that Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid still features in the show. Gateau Chocolat in mermaid outfit complete with a bubble making machine is a highlight. Memories from Cats sees Le Gateau Chocolat in a furry leopard print leotard and red wig.
Johnny Woo is the naughtier of the two changing lyrics to some of the well-known show tunes to make them rude and crude, to great effect. The onstage rapport between Johnny Woo and Le Gateau Chocolat is fun and delightful with Chocolat occasionally putting Woo in his place.
There’s a rare moment of seriousness in the show when Gateau sings Hopelessly devoted to you, as a moving tribute to the late Olivia Newtown-John. Any sadness quickly disappears when Johnny reappears in a turquoise leotard over black stockings to the sounds of Let’s get Physical. Johnny Woo also delighted when he lip-synched with exaggerated quivering lips to Some People from the musical Gypsy.
A night at the musicals 3: Summer Lovin’ Tour is a must-see show this Adelaide Fringe for anyone who’s ever watched a musical, loves fun or seeing very talented men in drag.
5 CROISSANTS
Matilda Marseillaise was a guest of the Garden of Unearthly Delights and Adelaide Fringe